Choosing Democracy: Michelle Rhee : front person for elite attacks on public schools

Choosing Democracy: Michelle Rhee : front person for elite attacks on public schools:

Michelle Rhee : front person for elite attacks on public schools

Excerpts from;  The Activist Handbook. Second edition.  2013. Reprinted with permission.

Randy Shaw

Michelle Rhee, chancellor for Washington, D.C., schools from 2007-2010, is the front person for elite attacks on teacher unions and public schools. Local school superintendents rarely become national figures, but Rhee appeared on the cover of Time magazine holding a broom to signify plans to sweep away teacher tenure. ..

By 2012 Rhee toured the nation promoting charter schools and vouchers, assessing teachers based on their students’ test scores, and most important condemning the evils of teacher unions.  Rhee made more than 150 public appearances in 2011-2012, reportedly getting as much as $50,000 per speech plus “first-class expenses.” It’s a pretty good deal for an educational “reformer” whose reputation is based on her controversial tenure as D.C. Chancellor.  Rhee closed schools, fired over half of the teachers, and tried to eliminate tenure….

Prominent educator Diane Ravitch has explained the Rhee phenomenon:

“This formula which will be a tragedy for our nation and for an entire generation of children, is now immensely popular in the states and the Congress.  Most governors endorse it.  The big foundations endorse it. “

Shaw then goes on to list some of the major foundations funding Rhee.  These have been listed here in prior posts. See also  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/anti-teacher-union-“reformers”-hoisted-own-petard

Shaw then goes on to describe what he sees as an effective media fight back strategies  taking on Rhee and the billionaires supporting Rhee style “reforms”.  This is a valuable guide to education activists who oppose the Right Wing assault.

The Activist Handbook.  Second Edition. 

Resilience, Addressing Problems, and Promoting Healthy Development — Whole Child Education

Resilience, Addressing Problems, and Promoting Healthy Development — Whole Child Education:

Resilience, Addressing Problems, and Promoting Healthy Development

September 9, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Post written by Howard Adelman and Linda Taylor, co-directors of the Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA, a whole child partner organization.

Anyone working with children and youth these days is familiar with words like strengths, assets, and resilience. This reflects the progress made in moving beyond a deficit or problem focused bias to incorporate approaches that build on motivation and promote resilience.

Research indicates that external factors (related to neighborhood, family, school, and peers) are primary causes for most youngsters' learning, behavior, and emotional problems. Protective factors act as buffers to risk producing conditions. Resilience refers to an individual's ability to cope with risk factors. While efforts to reduce risks and enhance protection can help minimize problems, a focus on promoting healthy development goes a step further by focusing on establishing systems that foster full development, well-being, and a value-based life. Safe, stable schools and neighborhoods that provide enriched opportunities to promote student development, learning, and a sense of community go well beyond just strengthening resilience. They promote and enable resilience through a full continuum of interventions, including promotion of healthy development, 

Low-Income Students Taking Advanced Tests - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Low-Income Students Taking Advanced Tests - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces New Support for
Low-Income Students Taking Advanced Tests

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that the California Department of Education will be distributing nearly $10.8 million to pay Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for more than 129,000 low-income eligible students.

California received a major grant under the U.S. Department of Education's Test Fee Program . The $10.8 million represents California's full grant request, and nearly a third of the total amount distributed to states across the country.

"Every student in California deserves a world-class education, and students who work hard and earn the right to take these advanced tests should never find themselves limited by the fees," Torlakson said. "With this grant, we can remove one more obstacle and open one more door for some of the students who need it most."

Under the AP/IB Test Fee Program, CDE allocates available funding to local educational agencies (LEAs) to help reduce the cost of AP and IB exam fees for economically disadvantaged students. To receive funding, LEAs must apply and provide the CDE with an assurance of compliance with all program requirements. This includes that eligible students contribute $5 for each AP/IB exam the student takes, with the state defraying the rest of the cost. Typical fees are $89 for AP exams and $104 for IB exams. 

For additional information on the AP/IB Test Fee Program, please visit the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education  or the California Department of Education's Advanced Placement Web page.

# # # #

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

High school biology books targeted by social conservatives | Education Blog

High school biology books targeted by social conservatives | Education Blog:

High school biology books targeted by social conservatives

By Terrence Stutz
tstutz@dallasnews.com
3:54 pm on September 9, 2013 | Permalink

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Religious conservatives on state textbook review panels have criticized several proposed high school biology textbooks for not including arguments against Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The review panels include several creationists who are urging the State Board of Education to not adopt the books unless publishers include more disclaimers on key concepts of evolution. One reviewer even suggested that coverage of “creation science” be mandated for every biology textbook – a requirement that would run counter to a 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning the teaching of creationism in public school science classes.

“I understand the National Academy of Science’s strong support of the theory of evolution,” said Texas A&M University nutritionist Karen Beathard, one of the biology textbook reviewers. “At the same time, this is a theory. As an educator, parent and grandparent, I feel very firmly that creation science based on biblical principles should be incorporated into every biology book that is up for adoption.” Other reviewers objected to the books’ acceptance of key evolutionary principles such as the fossil evidence for the evolution of humans and other life species. Of the 28 reviewers for biology books, nearly a third were nominated by former State Board of Education Chairwoman Gail Lowe, a social conservative and creationist. Lowe was defeated in her re-election bid last year.

Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said coverage of evolution and climate change in biology books from seven publishers have come under fire from social conservatives. “Once again, culture 

Ready for School? A Tale of Two Realities - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Ready for School? A Tale of Two Realities - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

Ready for School? A Tale of Two Realities

By Nancy Flanagan on September 9, 2013 4:07 PM

Guest post from Amy Rothschild:

The night before school starts, I'm thinking about "school readiness." A catchphrase used to name various policy initiatives and describe the work of non-profits, it refers to the habits a young child brings to school that makes him or her "ready" to learn. We exhort that children must have social skills, like the ability to sit with a group during a meeting time, and certain academic concepts, like knowing how to hold a book. Rarely, however, do we talk about "school readiness" and mean the school's readiness for those learners on day one.

I have made the shift from working in a urban public school in Connecticut to an small private school in DC--where last year's parents received public assistance, this year's crop make public policy. In the week or so of faculty orientation and set up, I have been continually struck by the difference it makes when a school has the funding to be ready for its students. Casually, an administrator told new faculty, "you'll find toilet paper, paper towels, sponges, and cleaning supplies in the downstairs storage room. Pens, Post Its, dry erase spray, et cetera are upstairs in the faculty lounge. When we're running low on something, make a note on one of 

NYC Educator: Welcome Back!

NYC Educator: Welcome Back!:

Welcome Back!

I don't know what you did today, but my day began with a 7 AM meeting with the principal, a UFT rep, some custodians, a construction guy, and some other people in suits. Who they were I have no idea. A few weeks ago Lindsey Christ interviewed me on NY 1 about the trailers at our school. She told me horror stories about other trailers so I figured I'd get UFT to check ours. Turned out they were full of mold, a pretty shaky way to start the year.

As all my classes are in the trailer, I was pretty nervous. That's not to mention the other 75 or so classes out there. My morning class is very small, so far, so I was going to take them to my department office, which would have been OK. We have a conference table and ergonomic chairs, so it may have been kind of cool. We also have some portable bleachers at our school, and I was plotting to steal them and teach my PM class out in the schoolyard. It's less than ideal, but it beats the hell out of the auditorium.

Yet lo and behold, the trailers looked pretty good this morning. The mold we saw was gone for sure. I'm going to ask UFT to come back and test for moisture, though. The problem is that, while they may have removed the immediate problem, the underlying problem remains and the mold will almost certainly come back. There are certain drawbacks to dumping temporary buildings and making them permanent.

The worst outcome, though, dumping 80 classes in the auditorium, was avoided. That's good. I was able to teach my kids all day and not worry about their developing asthma rather than English. Another NY1 reporter showed up and I spoke with her. I got a stern talking-to from some Tweed bigshot who gave me a list of 

Poll: Parental involvement best way to help schools, respondents say | NJ.com

Poll: Parental involvement best way to help schools, respondents say | NJ.com:

Poll: Parental involvement best way to help schools, respondents say

Increasing parental involvement is a better way to improve New Jersey public schools than providing vouchers for school choice, reforming teacher tenure or spending more, New Jersey voters said in response to a new poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind.

Some 71 percent said requiring more parental involvement would result in a "major improvement" to the quality of New Jersey's schools — and 70 percent said a lack of parental involvement is a "major" obstacle to learning for kids in the K-12 public school system, according to a press release issued by Fairlegh Dickinson University's PublicMind.

Asked what reforms would help the most to reform education in the state, the idea of giving parents vouchers for school choice ranked last, at 40 percent. Some 52 percent said reforming tenure for teachers was the answer, while 53 percent cited a need for more funding for education.

"Although it's common to hear system failures, such as ineffective teaching, as the biggest source of education ills in the state, the public seems to think otherwise," said Krista Jenkins, director of PublicMind and professor of political science at Fairleigh 

AFL-CIO 2013 Convention: Labor and Community Partnerships

Uploaded on Aug 29, 2013

Highlight showcase some of the many ways the labor movement is coming together with community groups and standing as one to change the future for working people.

Follow the AFL-CIO:
http://www.aflcio.org
http://facebook.com/aflcio
http://twitter.com/aflcio
http://youtube.com/AFLCIONow

Student testing bill set for passage SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Student testing bill set for passage
By Kimberly Beltran
Monday, September 09, 2013

With just one week remaining before fall recess, AB 484 – the bill that would end the state’s decades-old K-12 student testing system and begin a new modern one – was still undergoing last-minute “technical” amendments on Friday but is likely to reach the Senate floor for a vote tomorrow.

The bill, sponsored by California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and authored by Concord Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, heralds a new era in student evaluation by moving from paper-and-pencil multiple choice testing to computer-adaptive assessments that will track a pupil’s academic growth over the course of his or her educational journey.

The bill has Gov. Jerry Brown’s blessing, as well as broad support in the Legislature, and is expected to move through both the Senate and Assembly – and on to Brown’s desk – by this Friday’s deadline.

According to legislative staffers working on the bill, the amendments being made last Friday were technical in nature – known as ‘chaptering amendments,’ they are designed to eliminate potential conflicts with provisions in other legislation addressing the same Education Code statute.

With the state’s schools transitioning to a new funding system, new Common Core State Standards and new assessments aligned to those standards, there are several bills moving concurrently that are needed to enact all the necessary changes. Among them: SB 344 authored by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, that outlines new requirements related to the Local Control Accountability Plans – mandated under the new Local Control Funding Formula – that 

Teacher misconduct bill gets Brown's approval

A bill that would require school administrators to report within 30 days a change in a teacher’s employment status due to an allegation of misconduct was signed into law Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

2 10min 

Sound Off : It's time we get back to neighborhood schools | The News-Press | news-press.com

Sound Off : It's time we get back to neighborhood schools | The News-Press | news-press.com:

Sound Off : It's time we get back to neighborhood schools

I grew up in Maryland where school attendance was based on where you lived, not by choice. I feel Lee County’s “school choice” program is not the right approach to student placement.

As of 1999, the Lee County School district no longer was under court order, yet, “school choice” has remained in effect for 14 years. Why?

Lee’s “school choice” assignment plan is creating more segregation; it’s making some schools more desirable than others. The only choice parents should have is whether to put their children in the public school system, a private school, or a virtual school. And the public school choice should be the school closest to their home. Our tax money for education needs to go towards the students and teachers.

Have any of you driven around town on a weekday around 2:30 p.m.? Don’t! Because it’s a nightmare between the amount of parents picking up and the half empty buses arriving from everywhere. Why is this? That’s because parents don’t pick a school of their choice, but are “assigned” their first, second, third, fourth, or maybe fifth “choice,” which most likely isn’t close to home, and students ride buses for over 30 minutes each way.

I have several reasons a neighborhood school would better serve students:

• A neighborhood school creates a sense of community amongst students and the families. Neighbors all go to the same school.

• There is less time spendt on buses. Today, multiple bus routes for various schools swing by the same houses. I live off McGregor and have the option of at least 10 elementary schools, five middle schools, and five high schools passing by my house. That’s a total of 20 bus routes. That seems absurd.

• There is better understanding of head counts per school in neighborhood schools. You will be able to tell which areas of the 

September Is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month — Whole Child Education

September Is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

September Is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September 9, 2013 by Kristen Pekarek

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity now affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents in the United States. Research shows that childhood obesity puts kids at greater risk for health problems—including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease—and, once a child enters school, can undermine classroom and overall lifetime success. Encouraging new research indicates we are making some progress to reverse this epidemic: a new report on childhood obesity shows obesity among low income preschoolers has declined slightly in 19 states and territories, and a new report on school health shows there have been improvements to the way we teach nutrition and physical activity in schools. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

Healthy—the first tenet of ASCD's Whole Child Initiative—says that every student should enter school healthy and learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle. Here at ASCD we believe and practice this. This September, during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and every month, we encourage you to do the same by using the Initiative's tenet indicators and components to support and reinforce the health and well-being of your students. In addition, the we have compiled a number of resources from our partner organizations to further support you in your efforts to keep kids healthy, including

National Association of School Nurses

• Childhood Obesity (archived webinar and other tools)
• School Nurse Childhood Obesity Toolkit (SCOT)

National Association for Sport and Physical Education

• Physical Education is Critical to Educating the Whole Child position statement (PDF)
• 2012 Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA

National School Boards Association

• Preventing Childhood Obesity

Learn more about Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, view additional resources, and get tips on ways to keep kids healthy. Together we can combat childhood obesity and ensure kids grow up to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

In Deer Trail, Colorado, it's hunting season. 

Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff 

"Let me tell you what this is not: This is not Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not Libya—a sustained air campaign. This is not boots on the ground." -- USA Today

Loretta Sanchez, Calif. Democrat

"Make no mistake about it, the minute that one of those cruise missiles lands in there, we are in the Syrian war." -- Meet the Press

Jay Rehack

 While some call for reducing benefits for our retired members, the actuarial reality says otherwise: reducing benefits, besides breaking a promise, will not 

ALEC Behind Common Core Education Standards - Ring Of Fire Radio: Robert Kennedy Jr, Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder

ALEC Behind Common Core Education Standards - Ring Of Fire Radio: Robert Kennedy Jr, Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder:

ALEC Behind Common Core Education Standards

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Alisha Mims •

In 2010, the United States adopted the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI), purportedly to streamline states’ education curricula using standards-based education reform principles. The controversial decision to implement national educational content standards has been referred to as an “uncommonly bad idea” for American education by many. Recently, educator and education advocate Morna McDermott has illuminated the initiative’s extensive corporate ties, many stemming from the American Legislative Exchange Council.

McDermott, an associate professor in the College of Education at Towson University, has mapped out CCSSI’s corporate connections in a flowchart. Her chart shows that many corporations and organizations that are members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have “funded and perpetuated Common Core standards throughout the states,” Truthout reports.

The CCSSI initiative is part of a broader movement for “accountability” in education, which began with educational trends of the 1970s. According to Allan Ornstein’s, “The Evolving Accountability Movement,” the idea is partially rooted in “the ideas of Leon Lessinger and Sidney Marland, who translated business concepts