How Gerard Robinson is Taking the FCAT Bullet for Jeb Bush | Scathing Purple Musings

How Gerard Robinson is Taking the FCAT Bullet for Jeb Bush | Scathing Purple Musings:

How Gerard Robinson is Taking the FCAT Bullet for Jeb Bush

by Bob Sikes

 

This afternoon, the Miami Herald became the latest media outlet to blame this week’s FCAT writing disaster on eduction commissioner Gerard Robinson:

This latest FCAT fiasco falls squarely on Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. He was warned by superintendents there should be more time to take in the new measurements, as Florida moves to the next level. At least he acted quickly to inject some sanity into the process on the writing exam, but why cause such a predictable panic in the first place?

The Herald is correct that superintendents cautioned against such radical changes in FCAT scoring. But Robinson wasn’t alone in wanting increases to FCAT value. Both Jeb Bush’s foundation and the Florida Chamber 

Missouri Education Watchdog: Do Common Core Standards Dictate the Necessity for a National School Board and National Superintendent?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Do Common Core Standards Dictate the Necessity for a National School Board and National Superintendent?:

Do Common Core Standards Dictate the Necessity for a National School Board and National Superintendent?

by stlgretchen

This is from the chief architect of Common Core standards & new leader of The College Board.

Anngie wrote yesterday how the Republican legislators voted to expand charter schools across Missouri.  This is even as a 2010 study, "Charter Schools in Missouri: Student Achievement and Best Practices" by Missouri senators came to a conclusion on page 3/40:

The diversity among charter schools and traditional public schools does not provide evidence to allow a confident or accurate assertion that one type of school consistently outperforms the other.

What's changed between 2010 and 2012?  Charters will now be under the same common core mandates as traditional public schools, so that pesky diversity argument can be cast aside.  Since all the schools are 

RheeFirst! » A pictorial–how billions of dollars from “education” funders don’t go into the classrooms

RheeFirst! » A pictorial–how billions of dollars from “education” funders don’t go into the classrooms:

A pictorial–how billions of dollars from “education” funders don’t go into the classrooms

by admin

Source: Ed Week

Philanthropy gets in the ring: Edu-funders get serious about education policy

by admin

Written by Frederick Hess for Phi Delta Kappan. Read the entire article here.
“Odd as it may seem, I’m suggesting that foundations should make it conscious policy to welcome — even encourage — public criticism. I’m not talking about hired evaluations or strategic assessments conducted by friendly consultants but about rigorous debate over objectives, strategies, and outcomes. Given that even tart-tongued observers will be unusually reluctant to share their thoughts, foundations must make it extravagantly clear that they won’t blacklist critics and that they won’t look kindly upon anyone who does.
…
As for explicit collaborations with the federal government, my advice is this: Stop it. It does indeed build on the notion of leverage. But it threatens to stifle criticism, leaves little obvious room for alternative approaches, and takes the risks to a whole new level. Ultimately, it’s a bridge too far.”

Parent “choice” is not parent voice « Parents Across America

Parent “choice” is not parent voice « Parents Across America:

Parent “choice” is not parent voice

by pureparents

Parents Across America’s Response to Testimony before the House Education and the Workforce Committee

Hearing held May 16, 2012

“Exploring State Success in Expanding Parent and Student Options”

Yesterday, a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing which was promoted as a discussion on “state efforts to expand parental engagement.”

However, the title of the actual hearing (see heading above) and the testimony of three of the four invited speakers, made it clear that the leadership defines parent engagement solely as parental choice.

In his opening comments, subcommittee chair Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) essentially equated parental empowerment with expanded charter schools, parent trigger laws, and 

PAA’s Sharon Higgins on 60 Minutes Gulen Charter Schools report

by pureparents

My response to 60 Minutes’ piece on the Gulen Movement

Those of us who have been aware of the Gulen movement’s stealth involvement in an enormous network of publicly-funded charter schools are pleased that CBS News finally gave the situation wide national coverage. However, the 60 Minutes segment broadcast last Sunday, May 13, left out a number of important things.  [NOTE: They (and you!) should be following @CASILIPS on Twitter.]

What 60 Minutes omitted

60 Minutes should have independently verified the Harmony administrator’s claim that the chain has a waiting list of ~30,000 students. Unless such numbers can be independently verified, the waiting list figures offered by charter schools are hearsay and should be viewed as a marketing strategy.

60 Minutes should have mentioned that Gulenists are Creationists. Especially since the 

Dear Teachers: Please Stop Being So Difficult | Mr. Teachbad

Dear Teachers: Please Stop Being So Difficult | Mr. Teachbad:

Dear Teachers: Please Stop Being So Difficult

There is a ter­ri­ble lit­tle book called Deal­ing With Dif­fi­cult Teach­ers (2002) by Todd Whitaker. I’d been curi­ous about this book since I saw it on my assis­tant principal’s Ama­zon wish list three years ago. I finally read it this week. It was even worse than I had imag­ined, both in terms of ideas and prose.

So, let’s get started!

What do you do with a dif­fi­cult teacher?
And what is a dif­fi­cult teacher anyway?

Dif­fi­cult teach­ers are defined entirely by how the prin­ci­pal feels about what a teacher does. The prin­ci­pal, in this book, is always val­i­dated. Always.

The prin­ci­pal is pos­i­tive; the dif­fi­cult teacher is neg­a­tive.
The prin­ci­pal is try­ing to move the school for­ward; the dif­fi­cult teacher is try­ing to stop him.
Dif­fi­cult teach­ers are bad and inef­fec­tive; even dan­ger­ous.

Armed with this val­i­dat­ing and elas­tic set of truths and hints, the principal-reader is empow­ered to define dif­fi­cult 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm says NATO is a peace group

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm says NATO is a peace group:

Rahm says NATO is a peace group

by Mike Klonsky

Studs Terkel

Yesterday was Studs Terkel's 100th birthday. I'm certain if Studs were alive to day he would get a chuckle listening to this mayor's bombast as much as did listening to the last one's. I don't know what could possibly top Rahm's latest description of NATO, the world's largest war machine ever on the face of the earth, as an an organization working for peace.

You see, according to the mayor, the reason he brought the NATO summit to Chicago is so the WINDY city could be the historic scene of the Chicago Accords -- the agreement to put an end to war --as we know it.

The Sun-Times' Fran Spielman writes:

As the NATO summit draws near, Emanuel has become increasingly defensive about an event that many Chicagoans view as a giant headache... But after the U.S. Secret Service disclosed plans to close three major expressways, lakefront museums and countless roads to protect 

Maria Shriver to USC grads: Focus on now, not what's next - latimes.com

Maria Shriver to USC grads: Focus on now, not what's next - latimes.com:

Maria Shriver to USC grads: Focus on now, not what's next

Popout
Maria Shriver, award-winning television journalist, best-selling author and former first lady of California, had some unexpected advice for her daughter and other graduates of USC’s Annenberg School of Communication last week: Hit the pause button.
"I’m asking you to learn how to pause because I really believe that the state of our communication is out of 

SES IS A MESS: Impacts of Title I Supplemental Educational Services on Student Achievement

Impacts of Title I Supplemental Educational Services on Student Achievement:

Impacts of Title I Supplemental Educational Services on Student Achievement

"Impacts of Title I Supplemental Educational Services on Student Achievement" examines the potential achievement benefits of academic support services offered outside the regular school day by state-approved Supplemental Educational Service providers. As one of the parental choice provisions implemented with Title I funds under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, parents of low-income students in low-performing schools are offered a choice of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) for their children. In the six study districts located in three states (Connecticut, Ohio, and Florida), more eligible students applied for SES than could be served with available funds, requiring prioritization of SES to the lowest-achieving students among the eligible applicants. Oversubscription for SES is unusual among school districts, and the study’s six school districts are not nationally representative. The study uses a regression discontinuity design to obtain estimates of the impact of SES by comparing the outcomes of students just below and above the cutoff value for receiving services.

The main findings from the study are as follows:

• The study found no evidence of impacts on achievement of offering SES to students near the cusp of having access to services in six oversubscribed school districts. For grades 3–8, there were no statistically significant impacts of offering SES on student achievement in reading or in mathematics. Furthermore, the study found no statistically significant impact of participating in SES on student achievement in reading or mathematics.
• An average of 21 hours of SES per student for the school year were offered either in one-on-one or group sessions by providers that relied extensively on local school teachers to serve as SES instructors. Among students in the six districts who had received SES, 36 percent received tutoring in both reading and math, 55 percent received tutoring in only reading, and 9 percent received only math tutoring. Reading services in the study districts averaged 17.2 hours of tutoring for the school year, and math services averaged 12.5 hours for the school year. Teachers employed in the school district comprised, on average, 60 percent of the providers’ instructional staff in the six study districts. On average, 44 percent of provider services in the study districts were offered in groups of 2–5 students, 34 percent in one-on-one sessions, and 21 percent in groups of 6–10.
• The study found no evidence that observed provider characteristics and practices, including intensity of services, were significantly associated with stronger impacts. Providers varied in the average number of hours of math and reading services their students received, ranging from 0 to 27 hours of math services and from 0 to 43 hours of reading services across providers. However, intensity of services was not significantly related to the estimated size of impacts on reading or math achievement.

 View, download, and print the report as a PDF file (4.4 MB)
 View, download, and print the executive summary as a PDF file (344 KB)

SES IS A MESS: Duncan to Florida: Tutoring Doesn't Work - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Duncan to Florida: Tutoring Doesn't Work - Politics K-12 - Education Week:

Duncan to Florida: Tutoring Doesn't Work

By Alyson Klein on May 17, 2012 3:39 PM

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said today he doesn't understand why Florida passed a law requiring districts to continue offering free tutoring to students in struggling schools.

Florida is one of 11 states that got a waiver from many of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. That means districts in the Sunshine State no longer have to put aside 20 percent of their Title I money for tutoring and school choice.

But lawmakers in Florida still think tutoring is a good idea and passed a law requiring districts to set aside 15 percent of their Title I funding for the program. The law takes effect in July. 

Duncan doesn't think that was a smart move, and said so at a meeting of the Florida Council of 100, a non-profit organization comprised of business leaders in the state that advises the governor and other policy makers on key issues. 

He pointed to a recent U.S. Department of Education study, which examined so-called 

SES WHAT A MESS: More on Dallas ISD & the federal tutoring program | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com

More on Dallas ISD & the federal tutoring program | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com:

Matthew Haag & I wrote Sunday about DISD's frustrations with a tutoring program required under the No Child Left Behind law. Twenty-six DISD schools must offer the tutoring, also called Supplemental Educational Services, to poor kids. DISD said they've found evidence of fraudulent billing by at least two SES providers. Beyond that, district officials say, they see little evidence that the tutoring actually helps, given all the money spent on it. Here's what Patricia Burch, a researcher at the University of Southern California, had to say:

The SES program is a good idea in principle. It is a good idea to use Title I funds to provide more instruction as needed to kids whose families might not be able to afford private tutors. But much of the 

SES IS A MESS: Comptroller finds improprieties with another tutoring provider | GothamSchools

Comptroller finds improprieties with another tutoring provider | GothamSchools:

Holes in the Department of Education’s oversight of tutoring companies that work in city schools allowed one of 

SES IS A MESS: Suit: Princeton Review charged city for tutoring it didn’t provide | GothamSchools

Suit: Princeton Review charged city for tutoring it didn’t provide | GothamSchools:

This chart from the Justice Department's lawsuit 

SESISAMESSSESIAMESS SES IS A MESS Supplemental Educational Services

Guidance for Supplemental Educational Services: 

Guidance for Supplemental Educational Services

The U.S. Department of Education provides non-regulatory guidance for the implementation of the supplemental educational services provisions of No Child Left Behind. The Department also sends letters to individual jurisdictions with further clarification, if more information is sought, or if a state, district, or local education agency is not in compliance with the law.

GUIDANCE 

• Supplemental Educational Services Guidance
   MS Word (1.15MB) | PDF (304KB)
• Information and guidance for private schools becoming SES providers.

SES IS A MESS: Scientology Tutoring Service Approved By Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee

Chicago Supt Brizard Admits Failure « Diane Ravitch's blog

Chicago Supt Brizard Admits Failure « Diane Ravitch's blog:

Chicago Supt Brizard Admits Failure

by dianerav

Chicago Superintendent of Schools J.C. Brizard has admitted that he does not know how to improve Chicago’s public schools. He did so by asking the Gates Foundation to supply millions of dollars to open another 100 charter schools. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-cps-charter-growth-20120517,0,7306759.story
Handing public schools over to private management is a frank admission of failure on the part of school leadership. It amounts to saying, “I don’t know how to improve them. Let’s turn the kids over to the private sector and see if they can do it.”
Of course, Brizard arrived with an uneven record after having served briefly as superintendent of schools in Rochester. While he was there, the low graduation rate fell even lower. And, even though he claimed test scores 

Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break 5-17 #soschat #edreform

Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break

Two Democratic … « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago

Two Democratic … « Diane Ravitch's blog: Two Democratic … by dianerav Two Democratic party groups in California have publicly protested the use of the word “Democrats” by the hedge-fund managers’ charter advocacy group Democrats for Education Reform. The Los Angeles Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley have complained that the Wall Street group–whose education policies are indistinguishable from those of the GOP–should cease and desist using the word “Democrats” in their name as it confuses voters. Here is the LA complaint: http://www.lacdp.org/wp-co... more »

John Walton: DFER Catalyst? « DFER Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago

John Walton: DFER Catalyst? « DFER Watch: [image: DFER Fake Democrats for Education Privatization (click on Picture)] JOHN WALTON: DFER CATALYST? Posted by ken libby on November 27, 2010 · 4 Comments John Walton: DFER catalyst? So says Whitney Tilson in an interview from his documentary, A Right Denied. Here is a snippet: [DFER was started] …with a few other friends that are involved with a couple other other charter schools, and they were money managers like me involved with a couple similarly high-performing charter schools, we finally decided to create a little guerilla movement ... more »

Owners and players. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago

Owners and players. « Fred Klonsky: Owners and players. by Fred Klonsky Even as a kid I knew the difference between owners and players and the game. As a Dodger fan I loved Jackie Robinson. And I hated Walter O’Malley. As an adult I could swear allegiance to the Bulls and MJ while feeling nothing but contempt for Jerry Reinsdorf. So I have no problem with the Cubs and their players. Even though the new owners are scumbags. The story today is that the Ricketts family, owners of the Cubs, are million dollar funders of a super-PAC that is planning to launch a race-baiting campaign again... more »

Study: 7.5 million students miss a month of school each year – USATODAY.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Study: 7.5 million students miss a month of school each year – USATODAY.com: Study: 7.5 million students miss a month of school each year By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY Updated 13h 39m ago - Comments - - - - - - Reprints & Permissions On any given day, about 90% of USA students come to school — pretty good as attendance goes. But scratch beneath the surface and you may find less flattering figures. - [image: New research suggests millions of students miss a month of school each year, raising the likelihood they'll fail academically and eventuall... more »

Alec Exposed in Wisconsin: The Hijacking of a State | Uppity Wisconsin

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Alec Exposed in Wisconsin: The Hijacking of a State | Uppity Wisconsin: Alec Exposed in Wisconsin: The Hijacking of a State by Steve Hanson CMD Releases New Report“ALEC Exposed in Wisconsin: The Hijacking of a State” *Watchdog Groups Call for Attorney General Investigation of ALEC Lobbying Activities* MADISON -- Today, the Madison-based Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) released a new report that details the exclusive network of corporate lobbyists and special interest groups that influence the Wisconsin legislature through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). “Th... more »

All Things Education: Ssshhhh! Testing in Progress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

All Things Education: Ssshhhh! Testing in Progress: Ssshhhh! Testing in Progress by Rachel Levy *This is a guest post by a DCPS teacher who wishes to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisal by administrators.* "Ssshhhh! Testing in Progress" These signs hang on every classroom door and throughout the hallways of the elementary school where I teach. Bulletin boards throughout the building are plastered with test-taking tips, countdown to testing days, and even testing-themed poetry. Teachers are feverishly reviewing the pages and pages of rules, regulations, and routines that wi... more »

Indianapolis Charters Dumping Students « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Indianapolis Charters Dumping Students « Diane Ravitch's blog: Indianapolis Charters Dumping Students by dianerav Sharon Higgins, a parent activist in Oakland, manages an important blog called “charter school scandals.” she collects articles from around the nation about the misdeeds of charter operators. That’s how I learned about the story below. I have heard from many public school principals about the practice of dumping low-performing students and keeping the tuition money. Don’t be surprised if Tony Bennett doesn’t turn a blind eye: “IPS superintendent calls for state investi... more »

LAUSD'S FINAL SOLUTION FOR EXPENSIVE HIGH SENIORITY TEACHERS - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

LAUSD'S FINAL SOLUTION FOR EXPENSIVE HIGH SENIORITY TEACHERS - Perdaily.com: LAUSD'S FINAL SOLUTION FOR EXPENSIVE HIGH SENIORITY TEACHERS by Leonard Isenberg [image: Targeted.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) The biggest problem with bringing about change in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is that most people of good will find it impossible to believe that people running a school district could actually be so malevolent. In what now amounts to the hundreds of calls I have received fr...more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Lots of upcoming events in real school reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Lots of upcoming events in real school reform: Lots of upcoming events in real school reform by admin *Sunday, May 20, 5 to 7 pm @ Luther Memorial Church, 2500 W. Wilson.* PURE’s Wanda Hopkins will be featured on a panel, “Critically Thinking about Chicago Public Schools.” Also featured, members of the CTU, City Council, Raise Your Hand, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, and VOYCE; CPS Board members are also invited. “The notion of education reform is not a contentious issue for the vast majority of Chicago voters, as 82% con... more »

Education Research Report: The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Education Research Report: The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public Schools: The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public Schools [image: Gs_banner_attendance_calculator_short] ATTENDANCE COUNTS! Just one day. That’s what we think when we skip school or pull our child out. It can’t really matter that much. But add up those one days and you get months of missed learning time. We’ve created a tool that allows you to chart the effect of missing school. Check it out, share it and read more about the issue.... more »

Hey, Over Here… I got this standardized test for yah… Cheap. - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Hey, Over Here… I got this standardized test for yah… Cheap. - Wait, What?: Hey, Over Here… I got this standardized test for yah… Cheap. by jonpelto Three weeks ago came the news that Bridgeport Superintendent Paul Vallas and the corporate reformers who are busy “turning around” the Bridgeport School System decided to add another round of standardized tests to finish up the school year (even though the state-wide Connecticut Mastery Tests just took place only a few weeks ago.) See Wait What? More Standardized Testing, Hooray! Vallas’s Chief Administrative Officer informed Bridg... more »

From the National Academy of Sciences, a year ago this month, Current Test-Based Incentive Programs Have Not Consistently Raised Student Achievement in U.S | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

From the National Academy of Sciences, a year ago this month, Current Test-Based Incentive Programs Have Not Consistently Raised Student Achievement in U.S | Seattle Education: From the National Academy of Sciences, a year ago this month, Current Test-Based Incentive Programs Have Not Consistently Raised Student Achievement in U.S by seattleducation2011 *One year ago, the National Academies provided a report regarding the focus of standardized testing and its effects or lack thereof on our educational system. Unfortunately the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and his corporat... more »

May 17, 1954 | Supreme Court Declares School Segregation Unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

May 17, 1954 | Supreme Court Declares School Segregation Unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education - NYTimes.com: May 17, 1954 | Supreme Court Declares School Segregation Unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of EducationBy THE LEARNING NETWORK Thomas J. O’Halloran/Library of Congress U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph CollectionIn Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall successfully argued that school segregation was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Historic Headlines Learn about key events in histor... more »

The Students Success Task Force the focus of May 12th conference on the privatization of California Community Colleges: Students discuss strategies to form a California State Wide Union of Students | Dailycensored.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

The Students Success Task Force the focus of May 12th conference on the privatization of California Community Colleges: Students discuss strategies to form a California State Wide Union of Students | Dailycensored.com: ' The Students Success Task Force the focus of May 12th conference on the privatization of California Community Colleges: Students discuss strategies to form a California State Wide Union of Students Posted by: Danny Weil Posted date: *May 17, 2012* In: *Business, Education* | comment : 0 Comments If you are not familiar with the proposal coming out of the state gov... more »

Lucas Frerichs: Davis City Council Candidate Profile - Davis, CA Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Lucas Frerichs: Davis City Council Candidate Profile - Davis, CA Patch: Lucas Frerichs: Davis City Council Candidate Profile Lucas Frerichs is running for Davis City Council. Here's some information about Frerichs and his campaign. (Check back for updates). - By Patch Staff - Email the author - May 4, 2012 Email Print Comment Upload Photos and Videos *Davis Patch asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire to give readers information about his or her background. Read about other candidates here.* *Where do you work and what is your title? *I have worked for t... more »

The in box. Pension rallies scheduled for today and tomorrow. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

The in box. Pension rallies scheduled for today and tomorrow. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Pension rallies scheduled for today and tomorrow. by Fred Klonsky *ORLAND PARK – Pension Rally* *Please join the troops!!!* *Meet at: REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES KREZWICK’S DISTRICT (McCarthy’s Replacement)* *What: Rally Supporting Teachers and Public Employees* *When: Friday, May 18th from 4-6PM* * **Where: Representative Krezwick’s District Office ** (8951 West 151st Street, Orland Park, IL 60462)* * **Why: Rep. Charles Krezwick says he is supporting the Democratic Leadership’s Positi... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-17 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS If You Fail Just Lower The Standard | Truth in American Education coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago If You Fail Just Lower The Standard | Truth in American Education: If You Fail Just Lower The Standard by Shane Vander Hart [image: test-pencil-240-g-3642457]What a great example given to us by the Florida Board of Education if you fail to meet your standard, then just lower it! The Board of Education decided in an emergency meeting Tuesday to lower the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida’s standardized test after pr... more »

If You Fail Just Lower The Standard | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

If You Fail Just Lower The Standard | Truth in American Education: If You Fail Just Lower The Standard by Shane Vander Hart [image: test-pencil-240-g-3642457]What a great example given to us by the Florida Board of Education if you fail to meet your standard, then just lower it! The Board of Education decided in an emergency meeting Tuesday to lower the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida’s standardized test after preliminary results showed a drastic drop in student passing scores. The results indicated only about a third of students would pass this year’s tougher Flori... more »

Geaux Teacher!: STRAIGHT UP - a lucid moment from Rick Hess

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: STRAIGHT UP - a lucid moment from Rick Hess: STRAIGHT UP - a lucid moment from Rick Hess by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) As I have said before when citing a blog by Rick Hess, I don't often agree with him, but this posting today was more than a moment of cogency regarding school choice. I could spend (and our policymakers *SHOULD* spend) quality time studying, developing, and critiquing Hess's points to find ways to implement strategies that would benefit and protect everyone's right and ability to take ownership of *REAL CHOICE* and at the same ... more »

Modern School: California Judge Rules in Favor of Seniority

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Modern School: California Judge Rules in Favor of Seniority: California Judge Rules in Favor of Seniority by Michael Dunn The current wave of Ed Deform is breathtaking for the diversity and quantity of ill-conceived and destructive demands being made by its proponents. Despite the fact that these reforms contribute to the demoralization of teachers and potential flight from the profession at a time of teacher shortages, while also deteriorating safety and learning conditions for students, it seems like legislators and the courts are perfectly content to support and promote the madn... more »

The PowerPoint Slides That Were Too Hot for TED - Restoration Roundtable

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

The PowerPoint Slides That Were Too Hot for TED - Restoration Roundtable: The PowerPoint Slides That Were Too Hot for TED By *National Journal News Desk* May 16, 2012 | 5:14 PM - - - - - 4 The idea--that the rich should pay more taxes to close the income inequality gap-- that TEDorganizers recently decided was too controversial to spread is being shared anyway. Here's a look at venture capitalist Nick Hanauer's slides from the talk that was deemed to controversial to share: (*RELATED:* Read the Speech That's Too Hot for TED) TED 2012 More Slides Final1

The Danger of Mindlessness - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

The Danger of Mindlessness - Bridging Differences - Education Week: The Danger of Mindlessness by Deborah Meier Dear Diane, Sixty year ago, as a student at the University of Chicago, I met a wonderful man named Chick (Ernest) Callenbach. He moved westward and I moved eastward, and we gradually lost touch. Last month he died, and left behind some words that touched me deeply: (See May 6, 2012, on TomDispatch.com) "To all brothers and sisters who hold the dream in their hearts of a future world in which humans and all other beings live in harmony and mutual support—a world of sust... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, May 17, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Thursday, May 17, 2012* District Attorney's Office reviews case of teacher accused of abuseThe Orange County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case of an Orange teacher accused of physically abusing special-education students, officials said Tuesday. Twin Rivers school board candidate has criminal recordTwin Rivers Unified School District school board candidate John Berchielli has a lengthy criminal record, including felony convictions for child endangerment, setting booby traps, marijuana cultivation... more »

An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure | Seattle Education: An Open Letter from Former Stand for Children Activists About a Ballot Measure by seattleducation2011 *If only the Stand for Children folks in our state had such convictions.* *The following is an open letter from former Stand for Children members in Massachusetts.* As parents, teachers, and community members, we are Massachusetts grassroots activists for education. We read bills, testify at hearings, write letters to the editor, pore over budgets, speak at town meetings, make pho... more »

Arizona Republican Introduces Bill That Would Make The Lives Of Teachers A Living Hell | Addicting Info

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Arizona Republican Introduces Bill That Would Make The Lives Of Teachers A Living Hell | Addicting Info: Arizona Republican Introduces Bill That Would Make The Lives Of Teachers A Living Hell February 13, 2012 By Stephen D. Foster Jr. Five GOP Senators in Arizona have introduced a bill in Arizona that would make the lives of teachers and professors a living hell inside and outside of school. Senator Al Melvin, Senator Andy Biggs, Senator Don Shooter, Senator Lori Klein, and Senator Steve Smith are the sponsors of SB 1467, which would prohibit teachers from engaging in “speech or co...more »

What teachers don’t need (but are getting anyway) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

What teachers don’t need (but are getting anyway) - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What teachers don’t need (but are getting anyway) by Valerie Strauss This *was written by Paul Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman University in South Carolina. A version of this first appeared on dailykos.com.* By Paul Thomas Just days ago, I completed my 28th year as a teacher — 18 as a high school teacher of English followed by 10 years as a professor of education. Read full article >> The (college) kids are alright by Valerie Strauss This *was written by Stephen Whitt... more »

Full-scale assault on tenure, dismissal laws | Thoughts on Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Full-scale assault on tenure, dismissal laws | Thoughts on Public Education: Full-scale assault on tenure, dismissal laws - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess A nonprofit founded by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur has filed a sweeping, high-stakes lawsuit challenging state teacher protection laws. A victory would overturn a tenure, dismissal, and layoff system that critics blame for the hiring and retention of ineffective teachers. A loss in court could produce bad case law, impeding more targeted efforts to [...] Busting out of traditional n... more »

Sanctimonious Scolding Isn't a Great Strategy for Promoting School Choice :: Frederick M. Hess

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Sanctimonious Scolding Isn't a Great Strategy for Promoting School Choice :: Frederick M. Hess: Sanctimonious Scolding Isn't a Great Strategy for Promoting School Choice The other day, the Fordham Institute's Adam Emerson attacked Louisiana's Zachary school district for having the temerity to not participate in the state's new voucher program. After expressing initial interest, Zachary opted not to partake. The voucher program, championed by Governor Bobby Jindal, would allow students who attend Louisiana public schools earning a C, D, or F on the state's accountability system to ... more »

Is Miami-Dade Next to Endorse the National Resolution on High Stakes Testing? | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Is Miami-Dade Next to Endorse the National Resolution on High Stakes Testing? | Scathing Purple Musings: Is Miami-Dade Next to Endorse the National Resolution on High Stakes Testing? by Bob Sikes The state’s most recognized superintendent was clearly mad yesterday. Alberto Carvalho, a man who carefully chooses his words said some interesting things at the Miami-Dade school board meeting yesterday about this week’s FCAT nightmare. From *Miami Herald *columnist Fred Grimm: “What we saw yesterday , we predicted,” Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told his school board Wednes...more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Happenings and Good News in SPS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Happenings and Good News in SPS: Happenings and Good News in SPS by Melissa Westbrook *Lowell Elementary Chess Team wins 24th Place at National Elementary Chess Championship* **This event was held May 11-13th in Nashville Tennessee. Lowell was the only team with just two players (they could have had up to four). Jan Buzek, 4th grade, placed 47th out of 284 players and Marcell Szabo, 5th grade, was co-National Champion in the K-5 section.** * * * Note: *these blurbs were either submitted or the work of SPS Communications. I did not write any co... more »

NYC Educator: What Real People Think about State Exams

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

NYC Educator: What Real People Think about State Exams: What Real People Think about State Exams by Miss Eyre In my experience, at least, teachers can run in somewhat isolated social circles; i.e. many of our friends and relatives are also teachers. But I have the great fortune to be married to a real person non-teacher, Mr. Eyre, who nevertheless possesses a great deal of forbearance when it comes to my willingness to discuss the absurdities of my profession. A few days ago, we were listening to WNYC covering the scoring of the state ELA and math exams, and we had this conversati... more »

A Worrisome Tradeoff of the School Choice Movement

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

A Worrisome Tradeoff of the School Choice Movement: A Worrisome Tradeoff of the School Choice Movement by Sarah Rosenberg Source: http://photography-business-tips.com The New York Times’ most emailed articles list typically does not include the most hard-hitting journalism. Instead, the list features pet stories about Ivy League graduates forced to wait tables or, this week, parents paying for their middle-aged daughters to freeze their eggs as grandparent insurance. Monday morning’s list, however, had an important story that examines a tradeoff posed by the charter school movemen... more »

NY State PTA President Testifies on Role of Families in Education Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

NY State PTA President Testifies on Role of Families in Education Reform: NY State PTA President Testifies on Role of Families in Education Reform Dr. Maria Fletcher, president of the New York State PTA, will testify this morning at the US. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee — Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. The hearing, titled "Exploring State Success in Expanding Parent and Student Options," will focus on the role of parents in education reform. Research shows a direct link between family engagement and student ac... more »

Education Report: Chronic Absenteeism Undermines Over 5 Million Students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Education Report: Chronic Absenteeism Undermines Over 5 Million Students: Education Report: Chronic Absenteeism Undermines Over 5 Million Students by Joy Resmovits Danet Robaina-Cline, an attendance counselor at Chaparral High, considers her school lucky. Like other schools in Las Vegas, a city reeling from the worst ravages of the foreclosure crisis, Chaparral serves impoverished children. They live in foster care or homeless shelters. They must watch over their younger siblings or move several times a year. But because Chaparral is in the middle of a well-funded turnaround proc... more »

GERM in Brazil « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

GERM in Brazil « Diane Ravitch's blog: "Global Education Reform Movement" GERM in Brazil by dianerav In his recent book Finnish Lessons, Pasi Sahlberg talks about the spread of GERM (the Global Education Reform Movement), the devout belief in testing, accountability, competition, choice, and privatization. One reason for the contagious nature of GERM is that it is boosted by an unparalleled public relations campaign. This campaign makes dramatic claims about successes, test score gains, improvements of all kinds. If one has the opportunity to look closely at these claims, they disa... more »

Sacramento City Unified enacts worst-case-scenario budget cuts - Education - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Sacramento City Unified enacts worst-case-scenario budget cuts - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento City Unified enacts worst-case-scenario budget cuts Share By Diana Lambert dlambert@sacbee.com Published: Thursday, May. 17, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1B Fifteen months ago, Sacramento City Unified School District approved a worst-case-scenario budget that called for laying off 355 full-time teachers, principals, counselors and librarians, and cutting off sports, band, cheerleading, choir and drama. By June 1, 2011, however, the district got a reprieve because state income tax r...more »

Is an 'Occupy Teach For America' Movement Brewing? - Education - GOOD

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Is an 'Occupy Teach For America' Movement Brewing? - Education - GOOD: Is an 'Occupy Teach For America' Movement Brewing? by Liz Dwyer [image: occupy.tfa] Influential New York City educator Gary Rubinstein has long been critical of Teach for America, the organization that brought him into the classroom 21 years ago. In a blog post last fall, he argued that people should no longer sign up to join the organization. Now, he's asking TFA teachers and alumni to take action against what he calls "the corporate reform movement for which TFA is the poster child." "Now you’ve experienced how... more »

Did the UC Just Take a Major Step Toward Privatization? - Davis, CA Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Did the UC Just Take a Major Step Toward Privatization? - Davis, CA Patch: Did the UC Just Take a Major Step Toward Privatization? [image: Gov. Jerry Brown]Shortly after Gov. Jerry Brown presented his latest budget proposals, which he says will slash $8.3 billion from government spending to close a $15.7 billion deficit, UC faculty delivered a bold response. The Council for UC Faculty Associations is an umbrella association that binds the faculty associations on each UC Campus. They posted the following on their website the day after Brown's announcement. Some have suggested that th... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 5-16-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Citizens of the World charter: parent choice or segregation? by Leonie Haimson *Both nationally and locally,charter schools have been found to lead to more segregation**in our public schools. The following is by Brooke Parker, one of the founders of **Williamsburg and Greenpoint Parents for Our Public Schools (WAGPOPS)**, about a new charter chain that has applied to SUNY start in her district. Instructions on how to send in your comments to the SUNY Board of Trustees are **below; the deadline for public comments is May 21.* On the eve of the anniver... more »