Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Diane Ravitch: Union speaking fees did not change my mind | GothamSchools

Diane Ravitch: Union speaking fees did not change my mind

by Philissa Cramer

Is Diane Ravitch a “paid union spokesperson,” her famous change of heart inspired by fees from the teachers union?

The accusation, levied by the philanthropist and hedge-fund manager Whitney Tilson recently, draws from a new book about the education reform movement by Steven Brill. But the suggestion that she was bought is simply not accurate, Ravitch told GothamSchools. Brill, in an interview, also insisted it’s not the conclusion that his new book, “Class Warfare,” aims to draw.

In a short passage about Ravitch, one of the leading critics of the reform movement, Brill writes that she

Constant Immersion and Emergence « Cooperative Catalyst

Constant Immersion and Emergence

by caseykcaronna

Constant Immersion and Emergence

I hate the word reform. Well, let me put in another way, I hate how language, like the words reform, rigorous, and higher standards, has been hijacked by a standard imagery of the never-ending critique of traditional education, without actual changes to the core, instead, choosing to emphasize changes on the periphery.

The contentions of language such as reform, system, rigor and higher standards, nowadays encapsulate the idea of failure, rather than success. No longer do we equate reform with new formation, but rather, with previous process that had failed, or changed small elements to an industrialized system.

Higher standards is no longer considered a personal or communal reach for authentic growth, but now is considered a dangerous suggestion of standard approach, standardized tests and arbitrary hierarchical levels.

Since the suggestions of the previous words (and ones that appear exhausted, such as revolution, free, and

Middle School Girl Expelled, Forced to Apologize to Boy Who Raped Her - Forbes

Middle School Girl Expelled, Forced to Apologize to Boy Who Raped Her

by E.D. Kain

Via Kevin Drum, this is insane. A 7th grade girl in Missouri, described as a special education student, reported that she had been raped and was bullied by school officials to recant on the whole thing. Now the school district is calling a subsequent lawsuit over the matter ‘frivolous’ and claiming that the girl failed to protect herself.

And yes, it gets worse:

Following instructions from the school, the girl wrote an apology to the boy she accused of raping her and had to personally give it to him, according to the lawsuit. She was then expelled for the remainder of the 2008-09 school year. The school also told "juvenile authorities" that she filed a

August 20th is Lemonade Freedom Day

by E.D. Kain

When life gives you lemons…start a new holiday.

This Saturday is Lemonade Freedom Day – a day that will, alas, probably not be remembered in the history books. Robert Fernandes is the man behind the new “citrusy liberty celebration” as Katherine Mangu-Ward styles it. He offers this advice on his website for young beverage entrepreneurs facing the long arm of the regulator:

Always be respectful of any officials, follow their instructions even if they are wrong, and do not antagonize them.
Ask what is the statute or regulation that gives them the authority to shut down the stand, and what are

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Obama's in Illinois today

Obama's in Illinois today

It "not a campaign tour" but Obama's in Illinois today, holding some town hall meetings downstate. But he won't be in Chicago, correctly figuring that the city vote is already in the bag for 2012. And with the T-Party loonies and corporate GOP assaulting him, it would have been near impossible to raise any of our school issues to him directly.

"It's telling that the Republican Party, which believes corporations are people, would attack the president for meeting with Americans in their communities," said a spokeswoman, referencing a recent quip by GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.Crain's Chicago Business

Another reason why we need to build post-march SOS in order to confront both

Teachers as Classroom Policymakers: The Case of the Kindergarten | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Teachers as Classroom Policymakers: The Case of the Kindergarten

by larrycuban

Watching a policy travel from the White House, a state capitol, or a big city school board to a kindergarten teacher in her classroom has been compared (see my post September 9, 2009) to metal links in a chain, the children’s game of Telephone, and pushing spaghetti. Classroom teachers at the end of the iron-forged links in a chain convey military images of privates saluting captains and duties getting snappily discharged. The telephone game suggests miscommunications that ends up in hilarious misinterpretations of what was intended by the original policy. Pushing strands of wet spaghetti suggests futility in getting a policy ever to be put into practice in classrooms. Which metaphor, then, best describes going from adopting a policy to putting it into practice?

The truth is that for each metaphor actual examples of policies do fit the image. Yet other instances of teachers implementing policies fail to fit. There are other metaphors that better match the wide variation among teachers

On a story about a longer school day, the Trib buries the lede. « Fred Klonsky's blog

On a story about a longer school day, the Trib buries the lede.

by Fred Klonsky

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talked about a possible teachers strike the other day and it sure did cause a stir.

A lot of people think I work for CPS, so I got questioned about this a lot the last few days.

“If someone took away my promised raise, I sure would be thinking about a strike,” is my stock response. That’s

ACT Readiness Report for 2011 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues
Statement on Latest ACT Scores

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement after the release by ACT of its annual report The Condition of College and Career Readiness 2011:

"While we've made some progress over the last few years, today's ACT report provides more evidence that California has some work to do to make sure every student graduates with the skills to succeed in college and the workplace. That's why ourBlueprint for Great Schools focuses on 21st century learning, so that success in the classroom will translate into success in our knowledge-based economy.

"The results also further demonstrate the achievement gap that we've seen in other measures of student performance — including the state's STAR test results and in high school graduation rates."

According to the ACT:

30 percent of California's ACT-tested 2011 high school graduates met or surpassed all four of ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks (English, math, reading, and science). This figure is down slightly from 31 percent last year but up from the three previous years. The number of California students taking the ACT has grown steadily over the past several years (from 15 percent of grads in 2007 to 24 percent of graduates in 2011).

California college-readiness levels are significantly higher overall than the national averages and in all four subject areas. Even though the 24 percent of the state's graduates who took the ACT may not be representative of the entire California 2011 graduation class, these findings are encouraging.

Nearly a fourth (23 percent) of California's ACT-tested graduates met none of the four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks.

Results from ACT's eighth and tenth grade assessment programs, EXPLORE and PLAN, show improvement in California's college readiness pipeline between those grades and high school graduation. The proportion of California students who met all four College Readiness Benchmarks improved from only 8 percent in grade eight (EXPLORE) to 25 percent in grade ten (PLAN) to 30 percent on the ACT. EXPLORE and PLAN results are used to help guide improvement efforts.

For more information on ACT and California's statistics, please contact ACT's Ed Colby or Scott Gomer at 319-337-1028 or visit ACT's Web site at 2011 ACT National and State Scores | 2011 Condition of College and Career Readiness | ACT (Outside Source). California's disaggregated data by school will not be available for several months. For more information on A Blueprint for Great Schools, please visit the California Department of Education Web site at A Blueprint For Great Schools Report - A Blueprint For Great Schools.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintende

nt of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The rise of the corporate state and the “Death of the Liberal Class”

The rise of the corporate state and the “Death of the Liberal Class”

by The Perimeter Primate

“The danger when a liberal class breaks down is that there becomes no mechanism anymore by which mounting rage and anger can be expressed within the system.” (Video below @ 28:53)

From “Death of the Liberal Class” by Chris Hedges (2010):

Inside cover excerpt:

For decades the liberal class was a defense against the worst excesses of power. But the pillars

Peg with Pen: Opting out of the State Test: You Can Do It.

Opting out of the State Test: You Can Do It.

Earlier this week I shared an opt-out letter from Ceresta Smith, a mother and National Board Certified Educator in the state of Florida, who chose to opt her child out of the state test. I was particularly interested in learning more about Ceresta’s story because I had been told, and believed, that it was not possible to opt out of the state test in Florida. Her story is a wake up call for all of us who have felt defeated by the current testing system or believed that our children had no choice, but, to take the test.

After reading my interview with Ceresta, please join our Facebook group: OPT OUT OF THE STATE TEST: The National Movement. We plan to change the current narratives about the importance and necessity of high

Queens Teacher: Bronx High School Principal Resigns From "System Not Designed to Support Children or Educators"

Bronx High School Principal Resigns From "System Not Designed to Support Children or Educators"

by Queens Teacher

————————————–

Dear Faculty, Staff and Friends of Banana Kelly,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to resign as principal of Banana Kelly High School.

This decision has been a very difficult one as Banana Kelly has been an integral part of my life for the past 12 years.

The Banana Kelly team, students, faculty and community partners have been an inspiration and my greatest teachers. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done together and all that we have accomplished. What I am most proud of is that we have created a school community that is willing to take sides and the side we have

5-5-9 Categorical Consolidations - Categorical Programs (CA Dept of Education)

5-5-9 Categorical Consolidations

The 5-5-9 Consolidations program represents flexed categorical programs with payments made in twelve installments beginning in July and ending in June, pursuant to the provisions of Education Code Section 14041.

5-5-9 Categorical Consolidations

Fiscal Year 2011-12

Fiscal Year 2010-11

Combined Apportionment for Categorical Consolidations #1 through #5

Schedule of the Combined Apportionment for Categorical Consolidations #1 - #5 (XLS; 579KB; 192pp.)

Consolidation #1 - Student/School Access and Academic Support Programs

Letter of Apportionment for Consolidation #1 10-Nov-2010
Schedule of Consolidation #1 - Student/School Access and Academic Support (XLS; 831KB; 385pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #2 - Student Health, Safety, and Support Services Programs

Letter of Apportionment for Consolidation #2 10-Nov-2010
Schedule of Consolidation #2 - Student Health, Safety, and Support Services (XLS; 602KB; 170pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #3 - Regional Infrastructure and County Office Programs

Letter of Apportionment for Consolidation #3 10-Nov-2010
Schedule of Consolidation #3 - Regional Infrastructure and County Office (XLS; 115KB; 54pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #4 - Classroom/Curricular Programs and Materials (Curriculum, Materials, and Class Size)

Letter of Apportionment for Consolidation #4 10-Nov-2010
Schedule of Consolidation #4 - Classroom/Curricular Programs and Materials (XLS; 540KB; 258pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #5 - Teacher/Administrator Development and Assistance Programs

Letter of Apportionment for Consolidation #5 10-Nov-2010
Schedule of Consolidation #5 - Teacher/Administrator Development and Assistance
(XLS; 757KB; 297pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Fiscal Year 2009-10

Consolidation #1 - AB 825 Block Grants

Schedule of Consolidation #1 - AB 825 Block Grants (Revised 12-May-2010; XLS; 591KB; 140pp.)

Schedule of Consolidation #1 - AB 825 Block Grants (Revised 08-Jan-2010; XLS; 571KB; 315pp.)

Letter 23-Oct-2009
Schedule of Consolidation #1 - AB 825 Block Grants (XLS; 437KB; 325pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #2 - California School-Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE), Educational Technology - Statewide Educational Technology Services (SETS) and California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP), Peer Assistance and Review (PAR), Class Size Reduction Grade 9 (CSR 9), and School Safety and Violence Prevention

Schedule of Consolidation #2 - Cal-SAFE, Ed Tech, PAR, CSR 9, School Safety and Violence Prevention(Revised 08-Jan-2010; XLS; 450KB; 455pp.)

Letter 02-Nov-2009
Schedule of Consolidation #2 - Cal-SAFE, Ed Tech, PAR, CSR 9, School Safety and Violence Prevention (XLS; 337KB; 260pp.)

Program Specific Schedules

Schools Matter: By Any Means Necessary: Stop Sanctioned Child Abuse in Schools

By Any Means Necessary: Stop Sanctioned Child Abuse in Schools

by Jim Horn

The testing hysteria has reached levels in schools that require parents and teachers to take action to protect children from further harm. Teachers, parents, and children should feel justified to take whatever nonviolent actions are necessary to promote healthy learning environments and healthy children and to stop the testing abuse that is destroying the capacity of children to grow and learn.

From Zahra Lightway:

As you are getting ready to go back to school, you may be feeling pleased that your child is going to a school with high test ratings. Before you decide if that's a good thing or not, read this story. You may be shocked at the lengths many schools and districts will go to, to raise their test scores. After reading, go to your child's school and start asking some hard questions. Need help

More Ravitch Versus Brill | Dropout Nation: Coverage of the Reform of American Public Education Edited by RiShawn Biddle

More Ravitch Versus Brill

by RiShawn Biddle

Apparently, Diane Ravitch is miffed at Steven Brill for estimating in the new book, Class Warfare, that she earned as much as $200,000 in speaking fees from appearances before the National Education Association and other forums for education traditionalists, Ravitch sicced her lawyers on Brill and his publisher, Simon & Shuster,claiming that Brill’s estimate was “defamatory”, “fictitious” and “highly damaging”. Ravitch is demanding the excise of that estimate from future printings of the book, and an “errata sheet” on existing versions. Simon & Shuster responded by basically noting that Brill’s estimate was, well, an estimate, and stated as such. The publisher also stated that Ravitch was given “the opportunity to comment on the issue” and

The most-damaging possible allegation made by Ravitch

How Big Urban District Can Succeed: The Fourth and Final Part | The Education Front Blog | dallasnews.com

How Big Urban District Can Succeed: The Fourth and Final Part

by William McKenzie/ Editorial Columnist

Here's the fourth and final leg of the installment on how big urban districts can succeed. If you want to read more about this subject, go to our Points section this weekend. Some of what I have been writing here, plus viewpoints from some teachers, will be featured there on Sunday.

Big districts need buy-in from parents.

This is important first from the perspective of students. If their parents are not engaged with them academically, there is a great chance that they will end up doing only so-so in school. Education researchers like Heather Weiss of Harvard University note that engaged parents are a leading indicator of whether a child will succeed academically. And getting parents involved is a pretty inexpensive way to turn around schools.

Attending PTA meetings, serving on school committees and showing up for parent/teacher conferences is

Leadership Accountability « My Island View

Leadership Accountability

by tomwhitby

I am growing tired of the number of posts and stories I read about everyone’s plan on “teacher accountability”. I see too many holes in too many plans to deal with what is being categorized as “THE PROBLEM” with education; bad teachers. Unfortunately, when the outcome of many of these ill-conceived plans like Merit Pay result in failure, that too will be blamed on the teachers for its failure to work and not the fact that the plan itself was flawed. Teachers are in a no-win situation with targets painted on their backs. Nowhere was it more evident than in the reporter’s attack on Matt Damon for his support of teachers at the Save Our Schools March in D.C.. I guess we should be grateful for, if it wasn’t for the press coverage of Matt Damon, the entire March might have gone on with absolutely no press coverage. Why cover a bunch of protesting teachers when we all know that they are the problem with education? They cost too much and do too little. The newest added dimension, thanks to enlightened Missouri Legislators, is that all teachers are suspected to be potential child molesters.

I am not saying that teachers should not be held accountable. I am saying that there is no one factor that is

One third of teachers are victims of cyber-bullying; 25 per cent from parents - Techvibes.com

One third of teachers are victims of cyber-bullying; 25 per cent from parents

Posted by Bryce Tarling on Tue, August 16, 2011 10:18 AM · Filed under Seattle and 12 other categories · 2 Comments

teachers cyber bullied Cyber-bullying has created a number of challenges for teachers in schools where a growing number of students have access to their own computers and smartphones. What's become an increasing concern however, is that teachers are now the targets.

A new study from Plymouth University in England found that more than a third of teachers have been abused online. Most of the abuse (72%) came from students, but over a quarter (26%) came from parents.

"This parental abuse is something we haven't come across before," said Prof Andy Phippen, the author of the report.

A total of 35% of teachers said that they had been victims of online bullying — 60% of which were women.

New Orleans Liberation Academy: Keep That Fire Burning: Freedom Rides, Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action

Keep That Fire Burning: Freedom Rides, Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action

We've come a long way since the days when the first students courageously integrated America's public schools after Brown v. Board of Education struck down "separate but equal." Still, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of theFreedom Rides, the abhorrent state of our public schools denies our youth their most basic civil right - access to quality education.

Recently, New Orleans Liberation Academy students and teachers participated in theFreedom Rides for Justice in Education, a bus trip with other youth and adult allies from New Orleans to Washington D.C. for the Save Our Schools March and National

Ackerman: I am working | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Ackerman: I am working

by Benjamin Herold

After being absent from events earlier in the week, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman appeared at District headquarters this morning. A small group of supporters, led by Sacaree Rhodes of African Daughters of Fine Lineage, showed up to escort Ackerman into the building and voice their support.

Local elected officials also showed up to offer their support including state Sen. Shirley Kitchen, state Sen. Anthony Williams, and state Sen. Leanna Washington.

Kitchen called for Robert Archie to be removed as SRC Chair and Williams called the SRC's handling of this situation "embarrassing."

Featured Title:

Ackerman, supporters at 440

President Obama on Shaky Ground with Teachers: Can He Firm Up Support? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

President Obama on Shaky Ground with Teachers: Can He Firm Up Support?

by Anthony Cody

President Obama has some very large problems heading into 2012, and one that might surprise those inside the DC beltway is an area that should be a bulwark of support for any Democratic candidate: education. Democratic candidates tend to support public services, and the unions that represent teachers and classified workers are supportive in return. Going into the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama played to this strength when he spoke to members of the NEA, promising to "fix the broken promises of NCLB." The NEA renewed its endorsement of President Obama last month, but that does not mean he is home free. On the ground, among teachers I know, the President has some big problems.

As I posted a few days ago, most of the leading candidates in the Republican primary have taken clear stands against NCLB and the further expansions of Department of Education influence that have occurred under this

Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Obama's in Illinois today

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues Statement on Latest ACT Scores

Opting out of the State Test: You Can Do It.

5-5-9 Categorical Consolidations

5-5-9 Categorical Consolidations

Fiscal Year 2011-12

Combined Apportionment for Categorical Consolidations #1 through #5

Consolidation #1 - Student/School Access and Academic Support Programs

Consolidation #2 - District and Charter School Programs

Consolidation #3 - Regional Infrastructure and County Office Programs

Consolidation #4 - Student Health, Safety, and Classroom/Curricular Programs

Consolidation #5 - Teacher/Administrator Development and Assistance Programs

Fiscal Year 2010-11

Combined Apportionment for Categorical Consolidations #1 through #5

Consolidation #1 - Student/School Access and Academic Support Programs

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #2 - Student Health, Safety, and Support Services Programs

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #3 - Regional Infrastructure and County Office Programs

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #4 - Classroom/Curricular Programs and Materials (Curriculum, Materials, and Class Size)

Program Specific Schedules

Consolidation #5 - Teacher/Administrator Development and Assistance Programs

Program Specific Schedules

Fiscal Year 2009-10

Consolidation #1 - AB 825 Block Grants

Program Specific Schedules

Program Specific Schedules

One third of teachers are victims of cyber-bullying; 25 per cent from parents

Keep That Fire Burning: Freedom Rides, Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues
Statement on Latest ACT Scores