Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-9 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Q&A: Schools Services of California chief on education financing issues - Education - The Sacramento Bee

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QA: Schools Services of California chief on education financing issues - Education - The Sacramento Bee: QA: Schools Services of California chief on education financing issuesbydlambert@sacbee.com (Diana Lambert)Hundreds of school administrators and finance officers will crowd into conference rooms around the state in May to hear School Services of California staff explain what the state budget revisions mean to their school districts.Ron Bennett of Schools Services of California works with educators on budgeting, contract negotiations and other services.

In Chicago, it’s not how many votes you get. It’s who counts them. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 minutes ago

In Chicago, it’s not how many votes you get. It’s who counts them. « Fred Klonsky: In Chicago, it’s not how many votes you get. It’s who counts them.byFred KlonskyChicago Machine Boss Berrios.Chicago politics ain’t mumbly peg Mayor Washington used to say.If you’re taking on the powerful Chicago Democratic Machine, that goes double.Cook County Democratic Chair Joe Berrios is the very embodiment of The Machine.That is what Will Guzzardi decided to take on when he announced he would run for ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Trangressive Journalism at University of Missouri?

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Missouri Education Watchdog: Trangressive Journalism at University of Missouri?: Trangressive Journalism at University of Missouri?bystlgretchenHave you heard of the word "trangressive"? Here's adefinition:Transgressivemay mean:Transgressive art, a name given art forms that violate perceived boundariesTransgressive fiction, a modern style in literatureTransgressive Records, a United Kingdom-based independent record labelTransgressive (morphology), a form of verb in some languagesTransgressive phenotype, a phenotype that is more extreme than the phenotypes displayed by either of the ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 minutes ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESbyMike KlonskyInSanford, Flthe police chief threatened to stop the game if Robinson did not leave the fieldChris Lamb"A specter of Jackie Robinson" haunts the city of 53,000 people to this day. People want to forget it and it shouldn't be forgotten."--Racist past haunts Florida town where Trayvon diedJudy Rabin"Like Pharoah, Duncan's heart is hardened and although members of United Opt Out met with him

Cognitive And Affective Variables That Should Rule Education | Miguel Angel Escotet

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 minutes ago

Cognitive And Affective Variables That Should Rule Education | Miguel Angel Escotet:Cognitive And Affective Variables That Should Rule EducationbyMiguel Angel EscotetEducation must focus on the quality of formation and learning. The quality of the results, as a concept borrowed from the business sector which is much less complex and interactive than the education sector, is difficult to define with precision, since it combines values, attitudes and achievements which form a part of the most complex areas of study in psy­chology, ... more »

Court challenges are brewing across US over the use of public dollars for private education - The Washington Post

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Court challenges are brewing across US over the use of public dollars for private education - The Washington Post: Court challenges are brewing across US over the use of public dollars for private educationText SizePrintE-mailReprintsByAssociated Press,Updated: Monday, April9,12:04AMWASHINGTON — Students like Delano Coffy are at the heart of brewing political fights and court battles over whether public dollars should go to school vouchers to help make private schools more affordable.He was failing in his neighborhood public elementary school in Indianapolis ... more »

Deepening the Debate over Teach For America: Responses to Heather Harding - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

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Deepening the Debate over Teach For America: Responses to Heather Harding - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Anthony CodyAnthony Cody spent 24 years working in Oakland schools, 18 of them as a science teacher at a high needs middle school. He is National Board certified, and now leads workshops with teachers focused on Project Based Learning. With education at a crossroads, he invites you to join him in a dialogue on education reform and teaching for change and ... more »

Daily Kos: Important piece critical of Teach for America

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Daily Kos: Important piece critical of Teach for America: Important piece critical of Teach for Americabyrss@dailykos.com (teacherken)was posted this morning by my good friend Anthony Cody. TitledDeepening the Debate over Teach For America: Responses to Heather Harding, it appears at his Living In Dialogue blog at Ed Week / Teachers.A brief explanation. Anthony has over the past few months put up guest posts by people who have been critical of Teach for America. As a result, he psted exchange/interview with ... more »

Teacher: Dear students, I’m sorry about that test I made you take - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

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Teacher: Dear students, I’m sorry about that test I made you take - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Teacher: Dear students, I’m sorry about that test I made you takebyValerie StraussThis was written by Ruth Ann Dandrea, who has taught secondary English in upstate New York for 29 years. A freelance writer, she is co-author of“Women on Water,” about women’s kayaking, which will be available from North Country Press this spring. This appeared in “Pencils Down,” a new ...more »

NYC Educator: Trash Journalism

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NYC Educator: Trash Journalism: Trash JournalismbyNYC EducatorThe New York Daily News, along with the other papers, has been covering a group of 16 teachers it's labeled as "pervs" because of their alleged sexual misconduct. The DOE removed all these teachers from their classes, and attempted to fire them, but failed. However, Chancellor Walcott has determined that he knows better than any damn arbitrator.Naturally, this is not his fault, and it's not Mayor Bloomberg's fault. This is because nothing is ever ... more »

For-Profit Schools Under Fire For Targeting Veterans : NPR

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

For-Profit Schools Under Fire For Targeting Veterans : NPR: For-Profit Schools Under Fire For Targeting Veterans Hundreds of thousands of veterans have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, eager to get an education under the new post-Sept. 11 G.I. Bill.Many vets looking for a school find they are inundated by sales pitches from institutions hungry for their government benefits. Now, lawmakers are looking for ways to protect vets without narrowing their education choices.Daniel Elkins, a legislative associate with ... more »

2012 State of America's Library Report Shows Free Access to Information in Jeopardy -- CHICAGO, April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

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2012 State of America's Library Report Shows Free Access to Information in Jeopardy -- CHICAGO, April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: 2012 State of America's Library Report Shows Free Access to Information in JeopardyALA releases Top Ten List of Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2011CHICAGO,April 9, 2012/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Publishers limiting library ebook lending, budget cuts and book challenges are just a few library trends of the past year that are placing free access to information in jeopardy. These trends as well as ... more »

Editorial: New compact offers a truce in charter wars - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee

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Editorial: New compact offers a truce in charter wars - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee: Editorial: New compact offers a truce in charter warsSharePublished: Monday, Apr. 9, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 13AThe Sacramento City Unified School District is among 16 across the country that have signed a compact to work with charter schools. This initiative, supported with $100,000 from the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to get beyond relationships of antagonism and isolation. It seeks to put contentious ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Is the State of U.S. Public Schools a Threat to National Security?

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The Educated Reporter: Is the State of U.S. Public Schools a Threat to National Security?: Is the State of U.S. Public Schools a Threat to National Security?byEmily RichmondA Council on Foreign Relations task force, led by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, claims that the poor quality of America’s public education system represents a threat to national security. But the group'srecommendations for fixing schools have no shortage of detractors, including some of the experts who were asked to serve on ... more »

NJ Spotlight | NJ's First Virtual Charter School a Screen Test for Online Learning

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NJ Spotlight | NJ's First Virtual Charter School a Screen Test for Online Learning: NJ's First Virtual Charter School a Screen Test for Online LearningDespite questions over funding, enrollments pour in for K-10 virtual classroomsprint|email|shareByJohn Mooney,April 9, 2012inEducation|Post a CommentNew Jersey’s first comprehensive charter school to hold all of its classes online is beginning to enroll students from across the state for next fall, even as questions persist to how exactly the new breed of schools will operate and be ... more »

All Education Matters: Student Loan Debt Crisis: How much student loan debt do you have?

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All Education Matters: Student Loan Debt Crisis: How much student loan debt do you have?: Student Loan Debt Crisis: How much student loan debt do you have?byCryn JohannsenHow much do you owe in student loans?Plus, here are a few more questions, that I hope you'll answer:1) how many degrees you do you have?2) what school(s) did you attend (non-profit, for-profit, both)?3) what did you study?4) are you in default?5) if you're in a relationship, is

The Real Reason for the Arts « Cooperative Catalyst

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

The Real Reason for the Arts « Cooperative Catalyst: The Real Reason for the ArtsfromCooperative Catalyst » 5 questions about everythingbyJohn T. SpencerI watched a mediocre, meandering speech by Kurt Vonnegut. The video quality was lousy enough for him to look like he was an intellectual ninja, his mouth struggling to catch up with his voice. And then, he said what I’ve been feeling about education.“The computer said ‘I’m going to do all the becoming from now on.’ You become ... more »

When Keeping It Real Goes Awry | The Jose Vilson

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When Keeping It Real Goes Awry | The Jose Vilson: When Keeping It Real Goes AwryfromThe Jose VilsonbyJoseMitch Mitchellrecently asked me on my 900th post:Just asking, but what’s stopped you from publishing posts you said you’ve written and held back on? How many posts would you be up to if you hadn’t done that?I honestly don’t know. I tend to have three general guidelines that keep me in my lane: don’t venture too much into love, don’t discuss my principal ... more »

School Tech Connect: Again With the Constitution

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Again With the Constitution: Again With the Constitutionbynoreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)While it is absurd for anyone to think that Article XIII, Section 5 contains an invisible contains an invisible phrase at the end, visible in red only to very serious people,it is even more absurd and cynical to think that this same invisible phrase does not appear in Article IX, Section 3.I've read the entire Constitution, and nowhere is there a statement about one section being less important ... more »

Project 10,000 « Cooperative Catalyst

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Project 10,000 « Cooperative Catalyst: Project 10,000byalanthefriesenLast night I read the incredible manifesto “Stop Stealing Dreams: What Is School For?” by Seth Godin. Pat Farenga discussed (http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/why-homeschooling-should-be-part-of-rethinking-education) the article from a homeschooling perspective back in March, but I’ve been thinking all day about how we could put into practice the ideas that Godin discusses in the manifesto.Over the last year I’ve been exploring ideas of student choice in my own English classroom. Students are able to pick... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The testing obsession, and how it is destroying my Kindergarten child

NYC Public School Parents: The testing obsession, and how it is destroying my Kindergarten child:

The testing obsession, and how it is destroying my Kindergarten child

by Leonie Haimson

This parent prefers to remain anonymous.  But so many of usparents share her concerns about how the DOE’s obsession with testing threatensto undermine our children’s confidence and spirit.

My 5 year old boy attends kindergarten in a high performing schoolin a high performing district, and it is destroying him. He's such a happychild and in some ways, wise beyond his years. Applying basic skills, conceptsand scientific discoveries to everyday life is easy for him and he can dissectnumbers and do calculations in his head without hesitation.

Yet he comes home from school saying he's "stupid", a"loser" and is in " big trouble" because he can't read.This beautiful little boy struggles blending sounds to read words. He knows theletter sounds but reading the words is beyond his grasp 

Schools Matter: Don't Miss This One: Stephen Krashen at Occupy the DOE

Schools Matter: Don't Miss This One: Stephen Krashen at Occupy the DOE:

Don't Miss This One: Stephen Krashen at Occupy the DOE

Stephen Krashen is the funniest, most entertaining, and most knowledgeable educator/researcher that the University of Southern California can brag about.  If you have not heard Stephen make his case, brew up a cup of tea and check this out.

Watch live streaming video from califather at livestream.com

The 2012 Race to the Top Fund Continues Investments in Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs | U.S. Department of Education

The 2012 Race to the Top Fund Continues Investments in Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs | U.S. Department of Education:

The 2012 Race to the Top Fund Continues Investments in Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs

Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin are eligible for a share of $133 million

APRIL 9, 2012

Contact:  

 Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov 

Mark Weber, HHS, (202) 690-6343

The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that $133 million from the 2012 Race to the Top fund will be available for continued investments in state-level, comprehensive early education reform.  The Departments intend to fund down the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 slate and invite the next five applicants, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin, to apply.

“The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge has demonstrated the dedication among states and early education and child development experts to raise the bar on early learning,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Continuing to support states with 2012 funding will help build on the momentum from the 2011 competition, and engage more states in furthering their critical work to transition effective early learning programs into systems of excellence.”

In 2011, 35 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico applied to Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, creating plans that increase access to high-quality programs for children from low-income families, and provide more children from birth to age 5 with a strong foundation needed to succeed in school and beyond. In December 2011, nine states were awarded grants-California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington.

“What happens in early childhood sets the stage for everything that follows in life,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These new Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grants will help some of our youngest citizens thrive in school, be successful through adolescence and grow into healthy, successful adults.”

The $133 million for additional Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge state grants will come from a larger $550 million fund provided by Congress through the Department of Education’s fiscal year 2012 budget. Additional dollars from the 2012 appropriation will be used to run a new district-level Race to the Top competition. More details on the new competition will be available later this spring.

Eligibility for 2012 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge funding was based on the strength of applications among states that participated but did not receive awards in the 2011 competition. New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois and Wisconsin each earned approximately 75% or more of total points possible on a 300-point scale in the 2011 competition. The five states will each be eligible to apply for up to 50 percent oflast year's potential award amount.

Following the 2011 competition, the U.S. Department of Education conducted a thorough review of applicant and reviewer feedback, as well as reviewers’ scores and comments. The review found minor scoring inconsistencies for seven states: Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Wisconsin. These discrepancies did not have an effect on the 2011 competition. Nonetheless, the Department consulted with the original peer reviewer in each case, and as a result, scores changed slightly for five states: Hawaii-was 135.2 and has been revised to 125.2; Kentucky-was 208.4 and has been revised to 207.2; Massachusetts-was 267 and has been revised to 257; New Mexico-was 236 and has been revised to 236.2; and Wisconsin-was 234 and has been revised to 224. The overall score did not change for Nevada or New York. Revised scores and additional details have been posted tohttp://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge/awards.html.

The Department will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register in the near future with the full details of this proposal.