Monday, June 17, 2013

New Hampshire ‘neovoucher’ program found unconstitutional

New Hampshire ‘neovoucher’ program found unconstitutional:

New Hampshire ‘neovoucher’ program found unconstitutional

By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 17, 2013 at 4:29 pmE-mail the writer

A judge in New Hampshire ruled Monday that a tuition tax-credit program that allows public money to be used for religious school education violates the state constitution.

Three groups — Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union — had challenged the state’s new Education Tax Credit Program by suing on behalf of nine plaintiffs.

The tax credit program offers businesses an 85 percent tax credit for donations they made to organizations that fund tuition at religious and other private schools. Such programs are sometimes called “neo-vouchers.”

Strafford County Superior Court Presiding Judge John M. Lewis issued the ruling, which

The Looming Excellence Emergency | EduShyster

The Looming Excellence Emergency | EduShyster:

The Looming Excellence Emergency

by edushyster2012

Will the education reform movement exhaust the word “excellence” before the achievement gap is *crushed*?

Imagine a world without excellence. Experts say that with the education reform movement on schedule to exhaust the superlative as soon as 2016, an excellence-deprived future is a near guarantee. The problem, say excellence experts, is that a vast pool of corporate money has produced an excellence bubble as new groups rush to cash in on the fierce urgency of the moment. Experts say that a new education reform group is formed in the United States every 37 seconds, and that four in five of these groups are steeped in some variety of excellence.
Excellence 4 Everyone
Just how dire is the looming excellence emergency? There are now so many groups claiming the mantle of

Diane in the Evening 6-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Jan Resseger on Absurdity of Ohio VAM

by dianerav

This just in from an advocate for children who live in poverty:
This week the Cleveland Plain Dealer has a new series, “Grading the Teachers.” It is basically an endorsement of the new Ohio Value Added Measures (VAM) program by which teachers will be rated. Scores are being made available on-line. Ohio’s VAM formula, according to the news account, does not consider the socioeconomic information about the children.
Here are the articles thus far in the series:
· Grading the Teachers, Part I ‘Value-added’ ties teacher ratings to pupils’ test scores.

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Reader: How to Describe Corporate Reform in Plain English by dianerav A reader commented on an earlier discussion with these thoughts: *************************************************************************** “”Does anyone else feel like we are basically being ignored?” – 2old2tch While I applaud the sentiment and aspirations of this letter I am saddened with the weak tea rhetoric and carefully qualified points in academic insider language. This is how academics ex... more »

SBE to Fordham: NGSS highly vetted by CA experts SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

SBE to Fordham: NGSS highly vetted by CA experts

As one of the State Board's liaisons to the NGSS work, I've been very engaged with the development and review process up until now.

In the earlier stages, while NGSS was going through multiple rounds of public review and revisions, CDE had a group of 80 scientists, educators, and business leaders in CA review and comment on those initial drafts.

To review the final set of NGSS the CDE commissioned a group of 25 Californians to serve on a Science Expert Panel. These included Bruce Alperts, editor of Science magazine and faculty at UCSF and Helen Quinn, chair of the National Research Council's development of the recommended Framework for new science standards. The group also included outstanding scientists and faculty members from CA four year universities, leaders in science related businesses, and respected science educators at some of the highest performing CA K-12 schools.

I attended all six days of meetings of the SEP to observe, listen, and ask questions. I was impressed by their work and their thinking.

It is important to note that Fordham had only six reviewers of the NGSS, and all of them were higher ed faculty from various states. I compare that to the caliber and number of CA scientists, faculty members, and K-12 educators I have observed analyze and discuss the NGSS standards and comment on their merit compared to CA's existing science standards.

It is also important to consider that Fordham's "rubric" for evaluating the NGSS against CA's existing science standards is a rubric based upon their particular values: lots of content and fact (and memorization) valued over student understanding of scientific methodology to make discoveries and of engineering design to solve problems and

Jersey Jazzman: Newark's Charters: Perception Is NOT Reality

Jersey Jazzman: Newark's Charters: Perception Is NOT Reality:

Newark's Charters: Perception Is NOT Reality

by Duke

Apparently, the hue and cry in Newark against state control of the schools (coming from the elected school advisory board, the elected city council, the students, the teachers, and the parents) is getting so loud that State Superintendent Cami Anderson and State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf feel like they have to show at least a little acknowledgment of their critics:

Superintendent of Schools Cami Anderson announced an initiative Thursday night intended to close the perceived rift between the city’s charter and traditional public schools and raise the quality of the entire public school system for all its nearly 40,000 students.
“This is a joint and collective agenda between the public charter schools and the Newark public schools to get to a day where every kid in Newark is in an excellent school,” Anderson said shortly before she unveiled the plan, “One Newark,” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Underscoring the importance of the proposal was an audience that included Chris Cerf, the head of the state Department of Education, prominent Rutgers scholar Clement Price, and mayoral candidates Anibal Ramos and Shavar Jeffries.
Anderson and other speakers Thursday said a principal aim of One Newark was to

Common Core Summer Showcase - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Common Core Summer Showcase - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Showcases Teacher Trainings Kicking Off California's Common Core Summer

SACRAMENTO—With the state budget setting aside $1.25 billion to implement new standards in California's public schools, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson kicked off California's Common Core Summer with a daylong seminar to help teachers instill deeper learning of mathematics in their students.

"For teachers, this is California's Common Core Summer. They've just finished their own school year, but they're already back in class—because they see the opportunity Common Core presents to prepare students for a successful future," Torlakson said. "They're setting aside the one-size-fits all curriculum, recycling the 'drill and kill' worksheets, and dumping the multiple choice 'bubble tests'—replacing them with Common Core mathematics, which focuses on a few key areas at each grade level so students learn the skills they really need, step by step."

At Torlakson's direction, the California Department of Education (CDE) convened the first of two showcases on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to help teachers learn how to bring the new standards to life. Today's event, which brought together 150 educators from across the state, was focused on mathematics. A showcase focused on English-language arts instruction is scheduled for later in June.

"The focus today is on teachers—because the success of Common Core depends on great teaching," Torlakson said. "We're remodeling our education system, but the standards are just the blueprints. The real work, the heavy lifting of this remodeling project, will be done by teachers. That's why we've brought some of California's best teachers here, to learn from each other about putting the Common Core to work in the classroom."

Torlakson noted that school districts and county offices of education throughout the state were sponsoring similar training sessions as California makes the transition to the new standards.

The Math CCSS Showcase allowed participants to learn how to integrate CCSS math content standards and practices, engage in activities that foster knowledge and the art of teaching, and share strategies for increasing student engagement.

The English-Language Arts CCSS Showcase is set for June 24, 2013, also in Sacramento. Participants will learn how to build their knowledge through content-rich information; develop strategies for reading, writing, and speaking that are grounded in text evidence; and learn how to interpret and teach complex reading materials.

Participants at both events were to also have opportunities to learn how to incorporate elementary or secondary instructional strategies; hear about strategies to support English learners, students with disabilities, and struggling readers; and see techniques that support college and career readiness.

The showcases are the latest in a series of steps taken by the CDE and the State Board of Education (SBE) to prepare educators for the transition to CCSS:

August 2010: The SBE adopted the CCSS to provide a practical way to prepare children for the challenges of a constantly changing world—by learning step-by-step the real-world skills they need for college and careers.
December 2011: The CDE released a publication called A Look at Kindergarten Through Grade Six in California Public Schools: Transitioning to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics to provide information for educators on curriculum planning and professional development in the CCSS.
March 2012: Torlakson and SBE President Mike Kirst presented the CCSS Systems Implementation Plan for Californiato the executive and legislative branches of state government.
September 2012: The CDE made available the first in a series of professional learning modules designed to deepen educator understanding of the CCSS.
November 2012: The SBE adopted new English Language Development Standards aligned to the CCSS designed to help English learners build critical knowledge and skills.
November 2012: The SBE also approved the first supplemental instructional materials aligned to the CCSS.
January 2013: The SBE approved sweeping updates to the state's career technical education standards that reflect rapid changes in technology and set higher academic goals aligned to the CCSS.
January 2013: Torlakson presented Recommendations for Transitioning California to a Future Assessment System to the Legislature.
March 2013: The CDE joined the national Partnership for 21st Century Skills network of 18 states, which helps provide additional resources to implement the CCSS.
March 2013: The SBE approved anchor standards for English-language arts and literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects, which completed California's adoption of the CCSS.
March 2013: The CDE, in collaboration with the San Diego County Office of Education, provided the Spanish translation of the CCSS for English-language arts.
April 2013: The CDE opened public comment on the draft framework for the CCSS for math. This 60-day public review closes today; a subsequent review period will open in July. The SBE may take final action in the fall.
April 2013: The CDE hosted another CCSS showcase for educators in math, English-language arts, and literacy in history/social science, science, and technical subjects.
May 2013: The SBE approved the timeline to adopt instructional materials aligned to the CCSS for math.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

David Coleman Lauds the Use of Student Data | Truth in American Education

David Coleman Lauds the Use of Student Data | Truth in American Education:

David Coleman Lauds the Use of Student Data

by Shane Vander Hart

David Coleman, President of the College Board and “chief architect” of the Common Core State Standards, spoke at the Annual Strategic Data Project (SDP) Beyond the Numbers Convening hosted by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. The theme was “from the classroom to the boardroom: analytics for strategy and performance.” He lauded the collection and use of student data. The video below is edited for relevant excerpts. You can see his full speech here.

Popout

Ann Kane at American Thinker writes:

Also in his speech, Coleman, in referring to the College Board, stated he has now brought on Obama’s reelection team to develop his new Access to Rigor Campaign to collect and use data from students he calls “low-hanging fruit.”
The College Board will use its existing and future data “vault” to profile low income and Latino students from K-12 using the slogan “If they can go, they must go” to college.
In order to pull this off, the architect of the Common Core literally begs his audience–data geeks “installed” within school districts and specialists from the Strategic Data Project which is based in

Do we want to deal with the Achievement Gap: Then deal with the real problem (by Wendy Lecker) - Wait, What?

Do we want to deal with the Achievement Gap: Then deal with the real problem (by Wendy Lecker) - Wait, What?:

Do we want to deal with the Achievement Gap: Then deal with the real problem (by Wendy Lecker)

by jonpelto

Public school advocate and fellow columnist Wendy Lecker published another “must read” piece over the weekend. This one entitled “Courts repeatedly uphold the right to a quality education,” explains the underlying problem facing public education in our nation and the sad reality that children, parent and our society have had to rely on the courts rather than elected governors and legislators to truly put children first.

Wendy Lecker’s column successfully lays out the historical context and the real issues surrounding our nation’s failure to close the academic achievement gap, and by doing so, she lays bare the lies and deceit being perpetrated by the education reform industry.

The must read piece concludes that, “Ironically, the most progress in closing achievement gaps was made in the late 1970s to 1980s, while the nation still funded programs to fight

Crocodile tears from Achievement First Inc…

by jonpelto

The two CEOs of Achievement First, Inc. the large charter school management company co-founded by Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, published a commentary piece in yesterday’s Hartford Courant entitled, “Charter Schools Changing Suspension Focus.”

In the piece, Co-CEO’s Doug McCurry and Dacia Toll wrote that, “Achievement First had an important wake-up call last week when a state report included several of our public charter schools because of their high suspension rates — posing a direct challenge to our promise to provide an excellent education to all our students. The last few days have been tough as we work to reconcile our values and our practices. We recognize that our

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, June 17, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program | KHTS Radio

Education Headlines

Monday, June 17, 2013

Teachers in Upland say cuts hit them unfairly

As the June 30 deadline to approve a balanced budget looms, Upland Unified School District and its teachers are still in contentious negotiations that have teachers worried about their financial stability.

Ontario-Montclair School District teachers reject contract offer

The contract, which OMTA members rejected in the third week of May, called for teachers to work a 15-minute-longer workday in return for a 2 percent pay hike.

School districts say high-priced leaders are worth the cost

Superintendents, where the proverbial buck stops in each school district, are well-compensated for their time. But, as George Orwell might have said, some superintendents are more super than others.

Absence of summer classes a setback for many students

Over the past decade, all three desert K-12 school districts have cut back their summer school options, fading out summer programs for the average students. Summer classes are still offered to smaller groups — special education students, children of migrant workers or high school seniors who need extra credits to graduate — but open enrollment summer programs have disappeared.

Witness: District pushed poor underwriter

A former San Diego County investment officer was taken aback when Sweetwater schools officials pushed to have the least qualified bidder selected to market Proposition O construction bonds, she testified to the grand jury.

Schools with fewer needy students decry California funding change

California's new funding formula gives more money to districts with more needy students and less to districts with fewer needy students.

More special-ed kids head to traditional schools

Los Angeles Unified will shift hundreds of disabled students from special-education centers to traditional schools this fall as it accelerates efforts to integrate youngsters with physical and developmental handicaps.

Bomb hoaxes at East Bay schools cost district $157,000

In addition to taking an emotional toll on the community, a series of April bomb threats that forced the repeated evacuation of students and faculty from classrooms, including three consecutive days at Deer Valley High, cost the school district an estimated $157,000 in lost learning time, Antioch Unified officials said.

As California revenue rises, school districts on firmer ground

The Legislature's adoption last week of the main budget bill should give districts more confidence that they can count on that money in the future. At the same time, Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to overhaul the education funding system provides districts more control over their budgets.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Azusa school board, Rosedale developer continue talks on K-8 school status

A nearly decade-old agreement between the Azusa Unified School District and a partnership that no longer exists is causing consternation in the city, as the district continues to ask for a school in the Rosedale development.

Greenfield superintendent departs for Lompoc post

Superintendent Trevor McDonald has announced he is leaving the helm of the Greenfield Union School District to take the top post in the Lompoc Unified School District.

Cause of Santa Ana Valley High School blast remains unknown

Fire and school officials have been unable to investigate the cause of an explosion at Santa Ana Valley High School because the building is too unstable to enter, officials said Wednesday.

6-17-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

It makes me wonder why all the amateurs have come to education

by Chalk Face, PhD

As promised, my latest at Huff Post Politics. Tagged: amateurs, education reform, huffington post politics

KIPP in Arkansas Gives “Whatever It Takes” New Meaning

by Jim Horn

Recent conversations with KIPP high school teachers reveals many cracks in KIPP’s Five Pillars. Apparently, KIPP’s Helena, AK high school has interpreted “whatever it takes” to include violating state laws for student transcripts and what can count as course credits. From The Inside Scoop Online: The Arkansas Department of Education has determined that the Helena-West […]

PAR NoT PARCC in New Jersey

by freetoteach

Looking to replace the test driven, evaluation and merit pay systems dreamed up by the psycho psychometricians, know-nothing politicians and hacks, who are funding and benefitting from this multi-billion dollar sorting complex and “metric based” profit scheme? I thought so, me too. Montclair, NJ is leading the way against the Common Core Standards in New […]

An excerpt of a new Huffington Post submission, the cult of amateurs

by Chalk Face, PhD

I don’t know why, but some things I reserve for different audiences, perhaps to speak to a different cohort of people. But for the first time in about two months, I uploaded a new post to the Huffington Post. Hopefully it makes it through. If not, then I’ll post it here. But here’s an excerpt […]

Montclair, NJ Parents Fight to Maintain Integrity of Schools

by Jim Horn

From Stan Karp: Montclair parents are pushing back against new Supt. Penny MacCormack’s “strategic plan,” which includes a proposal to implement quarterly “common assessments” in all district schools. MacCormack is a former assistant commissioner at NJDOE who was recruited from Connecticut by NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf to oversee implementation of the common core standards and […]

6-16-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] We’re #10, We’re #10 ! by Chris Cerrone Ah yes, the public likes lists. We like to quantify even the unmeasurable and know where we stand. Hence the annual ranking of school districts by a publication in the Buffalo area that no one ever reads, except when it publishes a list of “top school districts”. What a great marketing ploy. And it works. […] *All Week 6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* [image: gears] *6-15-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours a... more »

NCTQ Ranking of Teacher Prep Programs Gets an F | A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues

NCTQ Ranking of Teacher Prep Programs Gets an F | A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues:

NCTQ Ranking of Teacher Prep Programs Gets an F

by Dr. Ed Fuller

Background

In January, 2011, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) and U.S. News & World Report announced their intention to evaluate and rank teacher education programs in the United States. The goal of this study is to review the quality of teacher preparation programs across the U.S., based on NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. This followed a series of reports assessing state-level Teacher Preparation policies across the nation.
Because there are at least 1,400 university-based teacher preparation programs in the US, NCTQ relied on two methods to assess the practices of teacher preparation programs and the content in the courses offered by the teacher preparation programs. The first method was to ask preparation program representatives to respond to queries from NCTQ about programs. The second method was to collect and analyze the syllabi from the courses taken by students in teacher preparation programs.
The purpose of this blog is to examine the effort by NCTQ to evaluate, judge, and rank university-based teacher preparation programs. My comments are separated into five sections: (1) Inputs versus outputs; (2) Lack of research foundation; (2) Methodology employed; (3) Alternative programs ignored; (4) Superintendent critiques;

Shanker Blog » What Should The Results Of New Teacher Evaluations Look Like?

Shanker Blog » What Should The Results Of New Teacher Evaluations Look Like?:

What Should The Results Of New Teacher Evaluations Look Like?

by Matthew Di Carlo

In a previous post, I discussed the initial results from new teacher evaluations in several states, and the fact that states with implausibly large proportions of teachers in the higher categories face a difficult situation – achieving greater differentiation while improving the quality and legitimacy of their systems.
I also expressed concern that pre-existing beliefs about the “proper” distribution of teacher ratings — in particular, how many teachers should receive the lowest ratings — might inappropriately influence the process of adjusting the systems based on the first round of results. In other words, there is a risk that states and districts will change their systems in a crude manner that lowers ratings simply for the sake of lowering ratings.
Such concerns of course imply a more general question: How should we assess the results of new evaluation systems? That’s a complicated issue, and these are largely uncharted waters. Nevertheless, I’d like to offer a few thoughts as states and districts move forward.
Statewide results mask a great deal of underlying district-level variation in results and design/implementation. This may be an obvious point, but it’s worth noting: The new systems’ results vary within and between states, as should interpretations of and expectations for those results. For instance, the first round of ratings in Michigan, one of the states that received criticism, were as follows:

Clearly, the fact that three percent of teachers received the “minimally effective” or “ineffective” ratings is implausible, and must be addressed. However, the systems, as well as their actual results, vary quite a bit from district to district. The most useful first step here would be to look for associations between districts’ results and

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-17-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

Perdido Street School: 6% Of NYC Teachers Hit With "Ineffective" Rating On Test Scores

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

Perdido Street School: 6% Of NYC Teachers Hit With "Ineffective" Rating On Test Scores: 6% Of NYC Teachers Hit With "Ineffective" Rating On Test Scores by reality-based educator Here is the future: Roughly 6 percent of city teachers were deemed ineffective last year based solely on their students’ scores on state math and reading tests, new city data shows. The data stemmed from a trial-run of just one segment of a new teacher evaluation system that will be implemented at public schools here this fall. That segment -- which only looks at state math or reading scores for students... more »

As Poverty Increases, Reformers Cling to the “New Status Quo” | NEA Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

As Poverty Increases, Reformers Cling to the “New Status Quo” | NEA Today: As Poverty Increases, Reformers Cling to the “New Status Quo” by twalker *By Tim Walker* A couple of weeks ago, the *U.S. Department of Education released new data t *hat confirms what every advocate of public education has been trumpeting for years: poverty is a growing scourge on public schools. According to its 2013 *Condition of Education *report, one in five schools in the United States are considered high poverty. Twenty percent of public school students attended these schools in 2011, considerably more t... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Sweet, sweet irony

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Sweet, sweet irony: Sweet, sweet irony by Charlie Mas A few days ago I wrote about the Board's role and how they are failing to do their job. Today, the Seattle Times writes the same. Funny thing, though, the Times and I have exactly the opposite ideas about what the Board should be doing. The Times claims that "*Time wasted on board dysfunction, including time spent on personality conflicts as well as delayed policy decisions, slows momentum on important improvements.*" Really? Like what? What - exactly - has been delayed due to Board disagre... more »

COMMON CORE STANDARDS ARE ON THE WAY Sacramento Council PTA

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 37 minutes ago

Sacramento Council PTA: [image: SAC COUNCIL LOGO] COMMON CORE STANDARDS ARE ON THE WAY *Be Informed So That You Will Be Able to Help Your Children, Schools & School District with the Transition* - Get More Information About What They Are - Parents Guide to Student Success-Frequently Asked Questions - Parents Guide to Student SuccessThis guide provides an overview of what your child will learn by the end each year. - Don't Politicize the Common Core State Standards! - Standards Backers Seek Out Support of Parents - Common Core: 7 Recommendations for Effec... more »

The "Robbing Reter to pay Paul" approach to school funding | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 41 minutes ago

The "Robbing Reter to pay Paul" approach to school funding | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: The "Robbing Reter to pay Paul" approach to school funding [image: Getting school funding on track] Getting school funding on track Previous Posts - A teacher to remember and celebrate June 17, 2013 - Teacher fired because dangerous ex husband shows up at school. Protecting kids or punishing her? June 15, 2013 - Technology in schools: Basic drills. Watching videos. June 14, 2013 By Maureen Downey Cuts to school funding at the state level largely go unrecogn... more »

Ed Notes Online: Burris, Kaufman, Eterno etc. Shake the Tree on John King/Mulgrew Pro-Eval

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 41 minutes ago

Ed Notes Online: Burris, Kaufman, Eterno etc. Shake the Tree on John King/Mulgrew Pro-Eval: Burris, Kaufman, Eterno etc. Shake the Tree on John King/Mulgrew Pro-Eval by ed notes online Where is the UFT on this? It looks like they are too busypraising Dr. King's new evaluation system to have noticed any flaws. UFT President Michael Mulgrew said: "The commissioner's plan is professional and fair and is designed to help teachers improve their skills throughout their careers." ... James Eterno, ICE blog, NEW TEACHER RATING MATH: EFFECTIVE ON TESTING + EFFECTIVE ON OBSERVATIONS = INE... more »

One of the Best Things PWCS has to Offer | PWC Education Reform Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 48 minutes ago

One of the Best Things PWCS has to Offer | PWC Education Reform Blog: One of the Best Things PWCS has to Offer by pwceducationreform With all the complaining we do about PWCS, I thought it might be time to compliment the school system on one of the many things it does well, and yes, there are many many things the school division does quite well. This first one is a unique program that should be a model for all schools – New Directions Alternative School. *New Directions* New Directions is public school in Prince William County that offers an alternate to students who are at risk ...more »

John Thompson: Let's Look Before Leaping to Ban Suspensions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 57 minutes ago

John Thompson: Let's Look Before Leaping to Ban Suspensions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Let's Look Before Leaping to Ban Suspensions by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* NPR's Wade Goodwyn in Why Some Schools Want to Expel Suspensions, reported that Los Angeles schools banned suspensions for "willful defiance of authority." He then left the impression that a single suspension often sets poor children of color down the path to educational failure. Goodwyn asked Daniel Losen of the UCLA Civil Rights Project whether such a suspension could... more »

Education's Attention Deficit Dilemma — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 57 minutes ago

Education's Attention Deficit Dilemma — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]Education’s Attention Deficit Dilemma June 17, 2013 by Walter McKenzie In the blogging era everyone can publish their ideas and opinions and grow quite a following doing so; the democratization of information in practice. This proliferating idea exchange is part and parcel of Thomas Friedman's flat earth analogy. Developing one's voice and being heard is a good thing. But it's not enough. If we carry the flat earth metaphor to its logical conclusion, opinions freely rolling acr... more »

The Real Pension Obstructionist: A Letter to a Legislator. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

The Real Pension Obstructionist: A Letter to a Legislator. | Fred Klonsky: The Real Pension Obstructionist: A Letter to a Legislator. by Fred Klonsky [image: mike] Dear Representative and Senator, We do not often get second chances, but all of you in the General Assembly are about to be granted another test of your allegiance to the Illinois Constitution and your political fortitude to find real and honorable answers to the Illinois “pension crisis.” Let’s be clear about one real truth. No matter how many of you are singled out and castigated by the Chicago Tribune for being hesitan... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky * **Jeb Bush:"Immigrants are more fertile, and they love families."* -- NPR * **CTU president Karen Lewis* *“Recently they announced a plan for a ‘quality, 21st century education’. Their 21st century plan looks more like a 19th century plan.”* -- WBEZ *Tom Hayden* *We are edging closer to the neo-conservative dream of total conflagration in the Muslim Middle East. Despite only 11 percent public support for US military intervention in Syria, a reluctant President Barack Obama is being pushed into esc... more »

OpEdNews - Article: Fighting For Our Classrooms, and For the Human Beings Inside Them

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

OpEdNews - Article: Fighting For Our Classrooms, and For the Human Beings Inside Them: Fighting For Our Classrooms, and For the Human Beings Inside Them*By Richard (RJ) Eskow (about the author)* It seems as if the same battle is being fought in every aspect of American society. On one side are the forces of egalitarianism, economic opportunity and self-determination. On the other is a well-funded and entrenched elite bent on hijacking our media, our political process and our institutions for their selfish ends. Sadly, the classrooms of this country haven't been spared. *Means And... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Linking home and classroom, Oakland bets on community schools | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Linking home and classroom, Oakland bets on community schools | Hechinger Report: Linking home and classroom, Oakland bets on community schools by Trey Bundy Sitting behind his desk at Fremont High School in Oakland, principal Daniel Hurst fiddled with a plastic cigar wrapper he had confiscated from a student. “They take the cigar paper and fill it with weed,” he said. Hurst knows Fremont’s problems well: he joined the school 28 years ago as a teacher. Two years ago, he said, a teacher was robbed at gunpoint before the first bell. “The school gets regularly burglarized,” he added. ... more »

The Washington Teacher: Longer School Day & Longer School Year Up Ahead for DC Public Schools Teachers & Students!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

The Washington Teacher: Longer School Day & Longer School Year Up Ahead for DC Public Schools Teachers & Students!: Longer School Day & Longer School Year Up Ahead for DC Public Schools Teachers & Students! by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) By Candi Peterson Vote Davis Slate for WTU Liz Davis /Candi Peterson WTU Can Be Better! Earlier in March 2013, DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced to the Washington Examiner newspaper that she was seeking to implement a *longer school day and a longer school year.* According to a schools spokesperson, DCPS was not ready t... more »

Daily Kos: Freedom of Religion in schools 6/17/1963

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Daily Kos: Freedom of Religion in schools 6/17/1963: Freedom of Religion in schools 6/17/1963 by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) On this day, by an 8-1 vote (Potter Stewart dissenting) the Supreme Court of the United States issued ABINGTON SCHOOL DIST. v. SCHEMPP, 374 U.S. 203. The opinion was written by Justice Tom Clark, who retired from the Court when his son Ramsey was appointed Attorney General of the United States by Lyndon Baines Johnson. Pennsylvania law required the reading of 10 bible verses each morning, along with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. In schools w... more »

Will competition in education kill our sense of community?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Will competition in education kill our sense of community?: Will competition in education kill our sense of community? By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 17, 2013 at 4:00 amE-mail the writer [image: Sarah Irvine Belson (american.edu)] Sarah Irvine Belson (american.edu) I recently published a post that slammed modern school reform as essentially an urban land reform project, written by Leslie Fenwick, dean of the Howard University School of Education and a professor of education policy, It said in part: The truth can be used to tell a lie. The truth is that black parents’ frustrat... more »

A teacher to remember and celebrate | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

A teacher to remember and celebrate | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: A teacher to remember and celebrate Ashley Muck By Maureen Downey [image: Ashley Muck photo] My former editorial board colleague Joe Geshwiler is retired but writes for the paper at times, including some wonderful obituaries. This obituary by Joe appeared Sunday in the AJC. I wanted to share it because Ashley Muck sounds like an extraordinary woman and teacher. And people ought to know about her. Ms. Muck lived a far too short life, but one full of meaning, commitment and accomplishment. So, if you m... more »

Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far… - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far… - Wait, What?: Comparing Wait, What? to CTEducation180…Now that is just going too far… by jonpelto Call it a Father’s Day perogative, but I’m going to take a moment away from my on-going effort to educate, persuade and mobilize through “perceptive and acerbic” observations about Connecticut Government and Politics. Normally I don’t respond to personal attacks or ill-informed commentaries that are leveled against my own commentaries. Truth be told, I’ve always believed in Voltaire’s famous quote which goes, “I d... more »

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance?: Guest Post: Is Third Grade Retention a Help or Hindrance? by Emily Richmond *We asked some of the journalists attending EWA's 66th National Seminar, held at Stanford University in May, to contribute posts from the sessions. You can find additional content, including video, at EdMedia Commons. Dave Murray of the Grand Rapids Press is today's guest blogger.* Educators are pretty clear that children need to read at grade level by third grade so they can use that skill to learn other subjects. But wha... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Retreat and Strategic Planning

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Retreat and Strategic Planning: Board Retreat and Strategic Planning by Melissa Westbrook Following up on Charlie's thread to the new (waiting for Board approval) five-year Strategic Plan, here's what I heard from the Board retreat where the Board and senior staff discussed it. For some reason, only the goals are at the communications page on this issue but there are links to the vision/mission/core beliefs from the Intro item on the Board agenda page. To note: that Saturday, June 1st, saw a packed room of staff (most of whom stayed from 10 ... more »

Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools - NYTimes.com: Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia Schools Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times Marielle Casanova, counselor at Andrew Jackson School in Philadelphia, is being laid off along with all the other counselors in the district. More Photos » By TRIP GABRIELPublished: June 16, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - SINGLE PAGE - REPRINTS PHILADELPHIA — When a second grader came to the Andrew Jackson School too agitated to eat breakfast on Friday, an aide alerted... more »

Last Stand for Children First: It's Time to Reform Father's Day

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Last Stand for Children First: It's Time to Reform Father's Day: It's Time to Reform Father's Day by Last Stand for Children This afternoon, I was shopping at one of those shopping malls, when I noticed an overabundance of "World's Best Dad" t-shirts, mugs, barbecue supplies, and a plethora of other flimflam. Sure, it's easy to say to dad, "You're the best!" but what does that even mean? Without metrics or any kind of objective evaluation, it's merely a platitude. The children of our nation face an uncertain future. Parents have let them fall further and further behind the Chine... more »

Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Wisdom from a 2012 CM “it doesn’t matter what their scores are” by Gary Rubinstein Throughout my teaching career, one thing has remained constant: what I’m trying to accomplish. Back in the early 1990s there was no focus on test scores, thankfully. My goal back then, as it is now, was for my students to like math more when they complete my class than they did when they began the class. This is something that is tough to quantify, and it is something that, if I accomplish it, will often, bu... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Monica Ratliff Responds to Critics by dianerav Since she upset the heavily-funded favorite in the recent Los Angeles school board runoff, many eyes are on Monica Ratliff. Some of her supporters were concerned when she appeared at an event where the Gates-funded Educators forExcellence presented a report on teacher evaluation. The event was attended by Superintendent John Deasy and NYC Teacher Ratings Will Flunk More Teachers by dianerav The politicians won’t rest until they can fire more teachers. John King is th... more »

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program | KHTS Radio

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program | KHTS Radio: State Superintendent Launches Common Core Summer Program Sat, 06/15/2013 - 11:30am | Gabrielle Moreira (news release - California Dept. of Education) State Superintendent Tom Torlakson will hold a press conference Monday in Sacramento to discuss California’s Common Core summer program, which will train teachers on new state-wide standards for math. ------------------------------ Don't miss a thing. Get breaking *Santa Clarita news alerts* delivered right to your inbox. ------------------------------ The confer... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey!: The Rewards of Teaching!:It's Not About the Money, Honey! by Lisa M Don't get me wrong. I like getting paid to teach. Now if someone offered to cover the mortgage ... On the last day of school, I walked this group of students out to the buses for the last time. I gave each of them a hug and my words of advice/ mini-motivational speech. The teachers stood and waved goodbye as the buses pulled off. Michael, one of my students, opened his window, and screamed, "Bye Mrs. M!" I laughed beca... more »

Short Notes: What Fathers Watch - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Short Notes: What Fathers Watch - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: What Fathers Watch by Jose Vilson [image: little_einsteins] A few notes: - Chris Lehmann wants people to get the difference between authoritative and authoritarian. Here’s a primer.[Practical Theory] - John Spencer has five things he never wants to say. Maybe you’ll rethink about the things you say, too. [Education Rethink] - Jeb Bush thinks immigration is a good idea … because immigrants are “more fertile.” *Ay dios mio.* [FOX Latino] - Is the fastest-growing job market in empathy?... more »

Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Fathers’ Day 2013: Calling dads to be heroes, not minions for a 1% evil By Carl_Herman on June 16, 2013 6:11 pm / no comments [image: slave] Severes Snape – Hero The choice between un-American dicts or American unalienable rights under our Constitution can be made so much easier if the men, whether fathers or not, channeled our love of competition into national and global victory of justice and virtue over “emperor has no clothes” ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Board's Role

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Board's Role: The Board's Role by Charlie Mas I went to Director Martin-Morris's community meeting on Saturday morning and the conversation was really good. It was good, in large part, because we stayed focused on things that Director Martin-Morris could do - we kept the conversation within the boundaries of the Board's role. We didn't ask him and his Board colleagues to make decisions that have been delegated to the superintendent or direct the superintendent in what decisions to make or to overrule decisions that the superintendent had made. ... more »

What do education advocates do on their day off? | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

What do education advocates do on their day off? | Reclaim Reform: What do education advocates do on their day off? by kenpreviti What do education advocates do on their day off? [image: Sisyphus]The task given Sisyphus by the ancient Greek gods of eternally pushing a massive rock up a hill to have it roll down again and again is precisely what we do. It is what we are supposed to do as true education reformers. It is a pure and good task and is not what it appears to be to most outsiders. (Please note that we are not talking about corporate education reformers who, in spite of what... more »

NYC Educator: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

NYC Educator: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws: Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws by NYC Educator One of the great selling points of the education law that mandated junk science, for the UFT, was that we would get to negotiate precisely how the junk science would be used to fire us. So they wouldn't just be firing us, we'd be firing *ourselves*. This is what comes of having that much-coveted "seat at the table." Unfortunately, Mayor Mike was not happy with what his Tweedies negotiated, and therefore it was left to Reformy John King to decree what city teachers ... more »

Perdido Street School: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Perdido Street School: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots: Nearly Half Of G&T Eligible Students Not Offered Program Slots by reality-based educator From NY1: Only 54 percent of city students who qualified for spots in gifted and talented programs received offers for this fall, compared to 73 percent who were offered placement last year. The Department Of Education partly attributes the decline to a rise in applications. DOE officials also did not guarantee a seat for every student in his or her own district, saying many families decided against accept... more »

School ignores advice from learning disability experts - Class Struggle - The Washington Post

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

School ignores advice from learning disability experts - Class Struggle - The Washington Post: School ignores advice from learning disability experts By Jay Mathews E-mail the writers Stacie Brockman is the Prince George’s County mother of lively twin 9-year-old boys. Her sons were born two months premature. She has done everything possible to deal with the disabilities that often impede the progress of such children. She took them to the developmental pediatricians at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, one of the top U.S. providers of care for children with learning disa... more »

New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have: New Florida law: Teachers can’t be evaluated on students they don’t have By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 16, 2013 at 12:47 pmE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: florida]In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category: Florida just passed a law making it illegal to evaluate teachers on standardized test scores of students they never taught. If you are wondering why such a law would be necessary, here’s why: For two years, many teachers* were* actually being evaluated by the test scores of students they had... more »

A must-watch video

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

A must-watch video: A must-watch video By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 16, 2013 at 11:13 amE-mail the writer 0 Comments More Watch this video and think about the nightmare it is for many kids with disabilities to take standardized tests.

Ed Notes Online: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Ed Notes Online: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation: Acievement First Concentration Camp Policies Supported by Gates Foundation by ed notes online Actually, I would describe Achievement First more as a southern plantation circa 1850. But no one should be surprised that the Gates Foundation is based on a southern plantation mentality. I love it that they are so willing to connect themselves to Achievement First which exposes what Gates is all about. Really think about the AF name. "Achievement" before even the welfare of the child. But "achieve... more »

GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab - CBS News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab - CBS News: *GOP slams Dems' education proposal as federal power grab* Republicans and the White House have "major" disagreements on education policy, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said Saturday in the weekly Republican address, including a fresh dispute over the scope of federal involvement in education. But on student loans, he argued, the White House and the GOP actually have a lot in common. The interest rate on federal student loans is set to double on July 1, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, unless Congress acts to preve... more »

Perdido Street School: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Perdido Street School: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable: NY Post: NYC Prinicpals Rarely Held Accountable by reality-based educator Not a surprise to those of us in the system: They dole out discipline to teachers and students, but city school principals rarely get a taste of their own medicine. In the past three years, just two of 14 principals formally accused of misconduct have been fired — and not a single boss in the city’s 1,600 schools was charged with incompetence, officials told The Post. The disciplinary deficiency raises questions when 217 elementary and m... more »

6-16-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Happy Fathers Day. | Fred Klonsky: Happy Fathers Day. by Fred Klonsky [image: Fathers Day]

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Can School Reform Hurt Communities? - NYTimes.com: Can School Reform Hurt Communities? William Widmer for The New York Times Jeri Hilt taught students about copyright law at ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy, a charter school in New Orleans, last week. By SARAH CARRPublished: June 15, 2013 NEW ORLEANS — BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, about 74 percent of this city’s schools were considered “failing,” based mainly on their standardized test scores. By 2012, that figure had dropped to 42 percent, even as the bar for passing was raised. Average ACT scores for the city’s public school students have ... more »

2nd Banana 6-15-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

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Monday, June 17, 2013

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Showcases Teacher Trainings Kicking Off California's Common Core Summer

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