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Advice from Your Online School Nurse

by dianeravitch / 7min

A veteran school nurse offers advice to parents to help them while they are schooling their children at home. A huge google Doc with parent resources from RelentlessSchoolNurse, link at bottom of page: The Relentless School Nurse: Dear Parents, A Message From Your School Nurse The Relentless School Nurse: COVID-19 Survival Guide for Parents and Kids Related FB group: https://www.facebook.com/grou

David Leonhardt: What Trump Has Said About Coronavirus

26by dianeravitch / 1h

The main reason that the U.S. was unprepared to respond promptly to the coronavirus was that Trump repeatedly told the public that it was not a problem, that it would disappear spontaneously, and that it was under control. None of this was true. Even now, almost half of Republicans do not believe that the virus is a genuine public health problem. Now, we are learning that there are real life-and-

Lessons from the 1918 Flu Pandemic, When Many Schools Closed

24by dianeravitch / 2h

I was recently contacted by a journalist who asked me if there was any precedent for the current school closings in response to a health crisis. My first impulse was to say “no,” based on my knowledge of history, but I started googling before responding. I googled “school closings” and “1918 flu epidemic” and found this excellent article by Alexandra M. Stern, Marin S. Cetron, and Howard Markel,

YESTERDAY

New York: State Tests for Grades 3-8 Cancelled

200+by dianeravitch / 21h

Just confirmed: “Gary Stern (@GarySternNY) 3/20/20, 12:46 PM It’s official from ⁦‪@NYSEDNews‬⁩: 3-8 ELA, math, science tests suspended for the school year. Plus, ESL achievement test & alternative assessment for students with cognitive disabilities.” No word yet about Regents exams, required for high school graduation. Stay tuned. This is not a year for testing when schools are closed indefinitel

Chalkbeat: Only 10 Black Students Offered Admission to NYC’s Most Selective Public High School

by dianeravitch / 23h

Chalkbeat reports that the number of African American and Hispanic students offered admission to New York City’s elite high schools continued to be very low. Admissions offers are based on the results of one test given on one day. No other factors are taken into account. The statistics for next year’s freshman class show sharp disparities: Only 4.5% of offers went to black students and 6.6% went

Doug Little: Lessons for Canada in SLAYING GOLIATH

by dianeravitch / 1d

Doug Little sent out this review of SLAYING GOLIATH to his readership in Canada, where some provinces support religious schools as public schools. Some also have charter schools. In recent conversation with activists in Alberta, it was clear that supporters of public education are worried about following America’s descent into privatization but that the camel’s nose is already inside the Alberta

A Parent Who Is Home Schooling Thanks Teachers

77by dianeravitch / 1d

This came from a friend in Illinois: Been homeschooling a 6-year old and 8-year old for one hour and 11 minutes. Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or a week.

The Nation Investigates the Charity of the Gates Foundation and Asks “Who Benefits?”

64by dianeravitch / 1d

In this must-read article, Tim Schwab reports his investigative journalism into the charities favored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He asks, who benefits? He begins by discussing a three-part Netflix documentary called Inside Bill’s Brain. The film was directed by Davis Guggenheim, who also directed Waiting for “Superman, ” the anti-public school, pro-charter school documentary. Schwab

MAR 19

Politico: What’s Known, What’s Not Known about the Epidemic

by dianeravitch / 1d

Politico has done some great reporting about the global pandemic that’s changed our lives. I recommend you read that summary of what we know, what we don’t know. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly-coronavirus-special-edition/2020/03/19/into-the-great-unknown-488634 “We’re not close to the peak. The rate of new cases continues to rise steeply and will explode next week as new te

The Status of State Testing Right Now

25by dianeravitch / 1d

The Network for Public Education urged Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to waive all state testing for 2020. Chalkbeat reports that many states have requested waivers, and two—Colorado and Texas—have canceled testing without waiting for waivers. Recently the Council of Chief School Officers urged a cancellation of mandated state testing. To see the status of state testing, see this update. From

Stuart Egan: Teachers in North Carolina Raised All the Right Issues When They Protested Last Year

100+by dianeravitch / 1d

Stuart Egan, an NBCT high school teacher in North Carolina, reminds us of why teachers protested last year and how the elected officials responded (mostly with silence). Fortunately, the people of North Carolina have a chance to change the state’s direction by electing a genuine and experience advocate for public education as state superintendent: Jen Mangrum won the Democratic nomination and she

Erica Green Was Right When She Wrote That Schools Should Close for at Least 8 Weeks

by dianeravitch / 1d

This post is a public apology to Erica Green of the New York Times. She wrote on March 13 that the Centers for Disease Control recommended that schools should close for at least eight weeks. A trusted reader of this blog said that the CDC guidance offered several options, depending on local circumstances. I read the CDC guidance and posted a correction implying that Green had offered the worst ca

Sam Chaltain: A Parent’s Guide to Home Schooling

53by dianeravitch / 2d

Now that many thousands of schools have closed, millions of parents have suddenly become responsible for home schooling their child or children. Sam Chaltain offers some sound suggestions. He calls it “A Parent Guide to Home-Schooling During the Apocalypse.”

NEPC: There Is No “Science of Reading”

54by dianeravitch / 2d

The National Education Policy Center issued a statement today about teaching reading. The bottom line: There is no “science of reading.” It’s time for the media and political distortions to end, and for the literacy community and policymakers to fully support the literacy needs of all children. Thursday, March 19, 2020 Joint Statement Regarding “Science of Reading” Advocacy KEY TAKEAWAY: It’s tim

New Orleans: VAM Proves that Best Teachers Stay in Best Charters

by dianeravitch / 2d

The National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH), formerly known as the Education Research Alliance, released its first report after having been funded by Betsy DeVos with $10 million to study the effects of choice in schools. REACH used value-added methodology (judging teachers by the test score gains of their students to determine that those who got the highest VAM scores

MAR 18

California: Teachers Thank Gov. Newsom for Canceling Testing During Crisis

100+by dianeravitch / 2d

NEWS RELEASE California Teachers Association 1705 Murchison Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 http://www.cta.org Contact: Claudia Briggs at 916-296-4087 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2020 California Educators Appreciate Gov. Newsom for Ongoing Leadership in Executive Order to Suspend State Testing SACRAMENTO — The California Teachers Association applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ongoing leadership and comm

New York: Testing Madness! ELA Tests Are Not Suspended. Mailing Them to Districts Is.

100+by dianeravitch / 2d

I reported yesterday that ELA tests are suspended. In this time of rumors, fake news, and disinformation,let me clarify. The distribution of the ELA tests has been suspended. The tests have not been suspended. The schools will be closed. The students and teachers will be home. But the tests will be given. By whom, it’s not clear. To whom, no one knows. The sovereign state of New York is waiting f

Teresa Hanafin: What Trump Said About the Pandemic

by dianeravitch / 2d

Teresa Hanafin of Fast Forward of the Boston Globe: The White House task force is holding another briefing at 11:30 a.m. ET, and we’ll see if Trump shows up again. It’s interesting how much he enjoys gaslighting Americans, claiming he said or did something he really didn’t as though there isn’t a written record to contradict him. A good example is his claim yesterday that he was way ahead of the

Happy Birthday, Wilfred Owen

by dianeravitch / 2d

If you have never read the poetry of Wilfred Owen, do it now. Today is his birthday. This bio comes from Garrison Keillor’s “Writer’s Almanac.” “It’s the birthday of poet Wilfred Owen (books by this author), born in Shropshire, England (1893). When he was young, his family was well-off, living in a house owned by his grandfather, a prominent citizen. But then his grandpa died, and it turned out t

Russia Will Change Constitution for Putin

by dianeravitch / 2d

We live in a new age of authoritarianism. Russian sycophants have cleared the way for Putin to remain in power for at least 16 more years. This from CNN: Vladimir Putin’s path to an extended presidency is almost clear after lawmakers voted to change term limit rules in the Russian constitution. Under current Russian law, Putin would have to step down as president in 2024, but the proposed amendme

Randy Rainbow on the Coronavirus Crisis

42by dianeravitch / 3d

Randy Rainbow sings and acts “The Coronavirus Lament.” Timely and, as always, funny.

Arizona: SOS Arizona Needs Your Help to Stop Growth of Vouchers Forever!

by dianeravitch / 3d

The parents and educators who created SOS Arizona blocked the last expansion plan for vouchers by getting a referendum on the state ballot in 2018. They had to fight the governor, the legislature, the Republican party, the Koch brothers, the DeVos family, and other monied interests, who wanted to keep expanding vouchers until every student in the state was eligible for a voucher. The all-voluntee

Nancy Bailey: Online Learning Can Never Replace Human Teachers

400+by dianeravitch / 3d

Nancy Bailey wisely explains the lesson of the current emergency and boils it down to this fact: Online learning can never replace human teachers and support staff. Parents who are staying home with their children have taken to Twitter to express their admiration for teachers. “How do teachers do this all day with 30 children,” they wonder. Be sure to open her post and check out the links as well

MAR 17

New York: State Suspends 3-8 ELA Tests

10Kby dianeravitch / 3d

A principal shared with me a letter he received, with the following information: New York State Education Department is canceling the English language arts tests, grades 3-8. No word yet on math tests, but they seem sure to be suspended too. The virus is spreading, not contained.

Kansas Update: School Buildings Will Close, Not School

24by dianeravitch / 3d

In the fog of the pandemic, it’s hard to keep track of school closings and cancellation of state testing. In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly ordered closure of school buildings but schooling will continue. CLARIFICATION: Governor Kelly didn’t cancel school for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. She closed school buildings. Schools will be working to implement Continuous Learning plans for a

California: Governor Says Schools Likely to Close for Rest of Year

69by dianeravitch / 3d

Governor Gavin Newsom said that schools in California are likely to close for what remains of the school year. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-17/schools-closures-mobilize-meals “California public schools are likely to be closed for the remainder of the school year in response to the escalating spread of coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday afternoon. “I don’t want to mis

Kansas: Governor Closes Schools for Rest of Year

100+by dianeravitch / 3d

Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas announced that all schools are closed for the rest of the school year. Governor closes Kansas schools, puts most state employees on administrative leave Be prepared to hear about more states doing the same. No one knows how long the global pandemic will continue, but there’s no end in sight.

Colorado Cancels State Testing

32by dianeravitch / 3d

Chalkbeat reports that Colorado has canceled state academic tests for 2020. Colorado will cancel state tests in light of coronavirus school closures, officials say Any state that insists on giving the federally-mandated tests should be prepared to answer how they expect to test children who have been out of school for several weeks without instruction. Under the best of circumstances, the scores

Happy, St. Patrick’s Day, Sort Of

by dianeravitch / 3d

Garrison Keillor writes in The Daily Writers’s Almanac about St. Patrick: “Today is St. Patrick’s Day, the annual feast day celebrating a patron saint of Ireland. “St. Patrick was born around the year 385, in a village in Wales. When he was 16, a group of Irish pirates raided his village and took many of the young men back to Ireland to work as slaves. Patrick worked for six years as a herdsman i

Note to Ohio: Lincoln Did Not Cancel 1864 Election

by dianeravitch / 3d

James Hohmann writes today in Washington Post that Ohio Governor DeWine should pay attention to history: Abraham Lincoln did not cancel the elections of 1864. https://s2.washingtonpost.com/23f6e3b/5e70db23fe1ff6038cdcb2ae/Z2FyZGVuZHJAZ21haWwuY29t/10/114/2160de31454b787c80a706dd1b1faf11 ”Abraham Lincoln rejected calls to postpone the 1864 election amid the Civil War, even though his reelection rem

Providence: New State Takeover Superintendent Rolls Out Initial Plans

34by dianeravitch / 3d

Angelica Infante-Green, the Commissioner of Education in Rhode Island, selected Harrison Peters as the takeover superintendent of Providence. Peters announced his initial plans, which sound sensible, like implementing restorative justice in schools and assessing which schools need emergency repairs. However, the article suggests that the big reform plan will be rolled out in April. Keep an eye on

Fareed Zakaria: Why Is the U.S. Response to the Crisis Inept?

49by dianeravitch / 4d

Fareed Zakaria is a regular commentator on world affairs for CNN. This article appeared in the Washington Post on March 12: The outbreak of an epidemic is something like a natural disaster — a spontaneous, accidental eruption that is no one’s fault. But that does not mean we can do little about it and just wait for it to run its deadly course. The evidence is now clear: The spread of the virus ca

Peter Greene: This is What Administrators Are Supposed to Do

76by dianeravitch / 4d

Peter Greene writes here about the forgotten role of the principal and superintendent . It is not to promote misguided and harmful policies such as those that were central to No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, but to fight against them and to protect their staff as best they can against misguided mandates. For most of the past two decades, however, the folks at the top blew with the wind a

William Mathis: An Absurd Argument for Expanding Vouchers in Wisconsin

by dianeravitch / 4d

This review from the National Education Policy Center by William Mathis demolishes an absurd claim about the hypothetical economic benefits of expanding Wisconsin’s voucher program. The review is actually hilarious. Mathis reviews a report by a voucher proponent published by a libertarian, pro-voucher thinky tank, claiming that expansion of the state’s voucher program would increase the number of

MAR 16

Trump Administration Outsources Coronavirus Testing

60by dianeravitch / 4d

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Mohler, In the Public Interest Communications Director, 301-752-8413, jmohler@inthepublicinterest.org Donald Cohen, executive director of In the Public Interest, a national nonprofit that studies public goods and services, said: “The Trump administration refusing to use the World Health Organization’s (WHO) test and instead outsourcing to two corporations amo

Texas Waives State Tests for the 2020 Year

100+by dianeravitch / 4d

Our friends, Pastors for Texas Children, sends good news that Governor Abbott announced that Texas will waive state testing due to the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.pastorsfortexaschildren.com/so/00N3a3e_Y?cid=7ceefb64-3104-4ad0-ad1b-c085eb86816c#/main Today, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would waive STAAR testing for the 2019-2020 school year, in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This dec

Leonard Lopate Interviews Me on WBAI Radio about SLAYING GOLIATH

by dianeravitch / 4d

If you have an hour to spare, you might enjoy this no-holds-barred interview by Leonard Lopate, asking questions of me about SLAYING GOLIATH.

John Thompson: How Can Teachers Help Students Who Are Traumatized by Life and Death Experiences?

55by dianeravitch / 4d

John Thompson describes a professional development session he attended with other educators in Oklahoma that offered helpful advice about helping students overcome trauma. But he then discusses the real world of students who are exposed to murder and violence, and the good advice seems painfully inadequate. What is needed? More counselors, social workers, psychologists, more resources in schools

If Schools Close Because of the Coronavirus, Prepare to Help the Neediest Kids and Families

24by dianeravitch / 5d

At a time when schools are closing to reduce exposure to the coronavirus, school and community leaders must consider the consequences for students who live in low-income families. For many, the school is the only place these children are certain to get a meal. Plan to distribute meals to homes in need. A more pressing problem is the impact on low-wage workers who must stay home to take care of th

Steven Singer: When Public Schools Recover, Skip the Tests

100+by dianeravitch / 5d

While the schools in Pennsylvania are closed, Steven Singer self-quarantined, took some time to reflect on his students, his schools, and where we go when life resumes. He wrote: I’m…filled with a deep sense of gratitude that I’m a public school teacher. My last class was a rough one – 7th graders running around the room with half written poetry demanding instruction, guidance, reassurance. My mo

Larry Cuban Remembers the Unknown Virus That Terrified Children When He Was a Child

54by dianeravitch / 5d

In this touching personal story, Larry Cuban tells the story of polio –also known as infantile paralysis–which was a scourge for decades. Many children died of the dread disease, and some were left paralyzed or partially paralyzed. Even adults were afflicted. Larry came down with polio and still has memories of his hospitalization and the treatments his parents administered to bring him back to h

MAR 15

Washington State: All Standardized Tests Canceled for Students for Spring 2020

4Kby dianeravitch / 5d

A reader sent this notice from Washington State: ASSESSMENTS As of March 13, state assessments are canceled statewide for the remainder of the 2020 school year. These include: Smarter Balanced Assessments (English Language Arts and Math) for grades 3–8 and 10; Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) English Language Arts and Math for grades 3–8 and 10; English Language Proficien

North Carolina: Governor Cooper Closes All Schools for at Least Two Weeks

by dianeravitch / 5d

Governor Roy Cooper has closed all schools starting Monday for at least two weeks. Now is time for common sense and caution, to protect the health of children, families, staff, and communities. Limit the spread of the virus. Here is the official notification from the state. RALEIGH (WTVD) — Governor Roy Cooper on Saturday afternoon issued an executive order to stop mass gatherings of more than 10

Bloomberg Aide: If GOP Attacks Hunter Biden, the Trump Children Will Be Exposed as Grifters in a “Scorched Earth” Fusillade

by dianeravitch / 5d

Tim O’Brien, who wrote a book about Donald Trump, worked on the Bloomberg campaign and is now an advisor to Bloomberg. A few days ago, he appeared on the Joy Reid show on MSNBC and warned the GOP that if they dragged Hunter Biden into the presidential campaign, they would be subject to a “scorched earth” attack on the Trump family that would expose them as grifters. He warned that Ivanka, Donald

CSPAN Book TV: My Conversation about SLAYING GOLIATHwith Susan Solomon in San Francisco: FULL VERSION

24by dianeravitch / 5d

When I was in San Francisco, I talked about SLAYING GOLIATH with Susan Solomon, president of United Educators of San Francisco. It was videotaped by CSPAN Book TV and has been broadcast. Here is the full interview: https://www.c-span.org/video/?468918-1/slaying-goliath Now that most public gatherings have been canceled, I am happy to share this conversation with you. Please let me know what you t

Erica Green Clarifies CDC Story in New York Times

by dianeravitch / 6d

Erica Green of the New York Times wrote to ask me to delete the post saying that the New York Times was wrong in reporting that the CDC recommends that schools close for eight weeks. She asked me to delete my post. My posts includes links to the CDC guidance. I recommend that everyone read the CDC guidance. She wrote me personally defending her story, and included an email to a reader as follows:

My Failed Effort to Correct News about the CDC’s Advice to Schools

200+by dianeravitch / 6d

Something very strange happened yesterday. Some site or sites on Facebook reposted a post I wrote, saying that the CDC recommended an eight-week recess for schools. This was not my opinion. It was based on an article in the New York Times . My original post began: Erica Green of the New York Times writes today that the federal government has finally offered directions for schools faced with the g

New York: A Petition to Governor Cuomo and State Board to Close the Schools

500+by dianeravitch / 6d

In response to the global pandemic, New York has banned large public gatherings. But thus far, public officials have not closed the public schools, many of which gather hundreds of children and adults in close contact. A significant group of parents and educators are calling upon Governor Cuomo and the members of the state Board of Regents to close the public schools, as many other states have do

MAR 14

Washington State: Schools Will Close Until at Least April 27; Testing May Be Canceled

by dianeravitch / 6d

Governor Jay Inslee closed the public schools across Washington State until at least April 27. Inslee said schools must close by the end of Monday and will remain closed through at least April 24. The earliest possible date students could return to class would be April 27, Inslee said. The closures will affect more than 1.2 million students. Standardized testing will likely be suspended. That’s p

NEA, Nation’s Largest Union, Endorses Biden

48by dianeravitch / 6d

The National Education Association has endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination for president. The Los Angeles Times reports: Joe Biden continued to consolidate support in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination today when he won the endorsement of the National Education Assn., the country’s largest labor union. With 3 million members, the union’s announcement will probabl

Washington Post: Trump is Breaking Every Rule in the CDC’s 450-page Playbook for Health Crisis

100+by dianeravitch / 6d

The Washington Post published this cautionary story by Carolyn Y. Johnson and William Wan about the rules for dealing with a public health crisis. Above all: Be honest. Level with the public. Let the experts lead. Have a consistent message to develop public trust. Trump has broken all the rules. Amid an outbreak where vaccines, drug treatments and even sufficient testing don’t yet exist, communic

Correction: This is What the CDC Recommends for Schools During This Time of Crisis

400+by dianeravitch / 6d

I earlier quoted a story in the New York Times that said the CDC recommended that schools should close for eight weeks. The story said : The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised schools on Friday that closings for at least eight weeks might be the most effective way to contain the coronavirus. The Education Department released school districts from a slew of testing and accountabili

Steve Hinnefeld: Now is the Time to Cancel State Testing

100+by dianeravitch / 6d

Steve Hinnefeld reports that Indiana’s education leadership is showing real leadership by seeking to cancel the state tests. The time to do so is now, because children and families are under stress, and schools will be closed for an undetermined number of weeks. The last thing children should have to worry about is being tested the minute they return, if school re-opens this spring. Superintenden

Center for Disease Control Recommends That Schools Close for Eight Weeks, and ED Department Waives Testing Rules

284Kby dianeravitch / 7d

THE ARTICLE QUOTED HERE WAS INACCURATE. THE CDC DID NOT RECOMMEND CLOSING SCHOOLS FOR EIGHT WEEKS. SEE THE CDC GUIDANCE HERE . Erica Green of the New York Times writes today that the federal government has finally offered directions for schools faced with the global pandemic: WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised schools on Friday that closings for at least eight wee

A Controversial Interview about SLAYING GOLIATH with Larry Mantle of NPR, Southern California

by dianeravitch / 7d

This interview on KPCC-NPR in Southern California by Larry Mantle was conducted a few days ago. Mantle made it clear–at least to me–that he favors charter schools, so I was constantly asked to defend my criticism of them. I later learned that Los Angelenos know Mantle as a charter champion. One of the hypothetical questions are posed was “what would be wrong with a district that was half public s

Katherine Stewart: Trump Gives Rightwing Christian Nationalists Whatever They Want

40by dianeravitch / 7d

Katherine Stewart is the author of a new book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. This article, which appeared as an opinion piece in the New York Times, is essential reading to understand the 

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