Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate

Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate

SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate 

 To: SCUSD School Board In the new Learning Accountability and Attendance plan,

 We know that English learners, particularly young English learners, require face to face social interaction to advance in English. We do not find plans to provide English learners with the required designated English Language Learning instruction. In your plan you have listed 60 minutes per week of instruction. That is totally inadequate. A child can not learn English with this minimal instruction. 

 It is clear under SB 98, that the district receives specific and designated funding for services to English learners. We do not find plans to track and apply the funding specifically for the English Learners. You are required to show that the supplemental money you receive for English learners actually improves the learning achievement of English learners. (Ed. Code, § 43503(b). We do not find evidence that you are going to measure, record, and report this achievement. 

 We advise the district to revise your plan to describe how the district is increasing or improving services in proportion to funds generated by low-income students, English learner and students in foster care under the local control funding formula (LCFF) as required by the continuing SB 98 legislation.

 As we have advised you for four years, your planning has not shown that funds generated by English learners are principally directed and effective to meet the needs of the students who generated them. Now, in your present proposed Learning Accountability and Attendance plan, you are again required to show how the funds generated by English Learners are principally directed and effective to meet the needs of the English learners who generated them. Should your plan fail to demonstrate evidence of this required direction of funding, we may need to oppose the approval of your plan.

 Parents of English learners are more likely than other parents to not have substantial internet connectivity. How will the district provide needed additional support to non English speaking, or limited English speaking parents as required by SB 98 ?

 In your required effort to support mental health and social and emotional well-being of pupils and staff during the school year, it is essential that many of the specialists and counselors providing services be bilingual in the languages spoken in the district. We do not find plans for providing certified bilingual counselors in the district. Your plan should be improved in this area. 

 We request specific and detailed responses to our continuing concerns. 

 Dr. Duane E. Campbell.

 Dolores Delgado Campbell Co Chairs – Education Committee 

 LULAC/Sacramento 

League of United Latin American Citizens 

 PO Box 162790 Sacramento , Ca. 95816

Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate

CURMUDGUCATION: ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements

CURMUDGUCATION: ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements

ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements

On August 26, Governor Mills of Maine issued an executive order that any warm body with any kind of college degree (or maybe even without) may be certified as a teacher.

The executive order actually has three parts. One gives instructions on how to count attendance if you want your state subsidy. One gives some loose instruction on facility disinfection. And one expands the eligibility for emergency teacher certification. Because of the "emergency shortages in essential school staff," 

DOE may issue an Emergency Teacher Certificate to an individual how holds a 4-year postsecondary degree or the equivalent in work and/or academic experience as determined by DOE.

Certification may also be issued to any college student enrolled in a teacher prep program. Also, they'll accept teacher certification from any other state. 

These emergency certificates will last only for this school year--at least, that's the deal for the CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements

Jersey Jazzman: State Aid Is School Aid

 Jersey Jazzman: State Aid Is School Aid

State Aid Is School Aid

Here in the Northeast, schools are getting ready to reopen in what can only be called a gigantic experiment in the middle of pandemic with a virus we barely understand. I'm going to say a few more things about this soon... but I first want to discuss something that's been pushed to the back burner over the last few weeks.

The Senate's complete abdication to do anything serious about the economy might lead you to believe that Republicans don't believe that public schools are facing a fiscal crisis. But that's not entirely true. Even though the GOP school aid proposal is incredibly weak, the very fact that Republicans are proposing aid to schools is a tacit acknowledgement that they are in financial trouble.

But, as usual, Republicans are proposing an inadequate solution to a very real problem. Part of this inadequacy is due to the insistence of ideologues on privileging private schools when coming up with an aid package. Part of it is simply the lowball amounts the Republicans seem set on sticking with, contrary to estimates about what's needed.

But a big part is due to a fundamental misunderstanding -- likely, a deliberate misunderstanding -- of how schools get their revenue. Schools rely heavily on their states for funding -- but the Republicans are refusing to provide fiscal relief for the states.

Let me put this as clearly as I can: Fiscal relief for states is fiscal relief for CONTINUE READING:  Jersey Jazzman: State Aid Is School Aid

WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE? – Dad Gone Wild

WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE? – Dad Gone Wild

WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE?

“This country’s drifting into serious trouble because of the clamor for simple and immediate solutions to complex problems that will take years to solve—even with total effort on both sides.”
― John Jakes, North and South

“What would men be without women? Scarce, sir…mighty scarce.”
― Mark Twain

Looking at my social media feed this AM makes for a strange juxtaposition. Across the country, and in surrounding communities, children are heading back to school while my children, and all the children of MNPS, prepare for week 5 of virtual schooling.

I think it’s the correct decision. COVID numbers may be dropping and the effects on children who contract the virus may be mild, but we still don’t know the extent of long term effects for children who contract the virus. Adults have reported long term heart and respiratory issues even after having recovered from COVID. That could hold true for children as well. In light of this, it’s important to err on the side of caution.

As critical as I can be of board member Gini-Pupo-Walker, her newest blog post makes a strong argument for the strategy that MNPS is presently employing. I concur when she states,

I am grateful that Dr. Battle has been clear and decisive, and that our board has supported her. For the first time in my memory, the MNPS family is unified, and rowing in the same direction. We are also collaborating with our charter schools, who support remaining in a virtual setting until October. Mayor Cooper has helped us get laptops and hotspots into the hands of every student who needs one. I recognize that remote learning is not a substitute for in-person learning, and never will be

Still, I feel for the student-athletes, musicians, actors, and such across the district that are facing cancelation of after school athletics. We need to find a way in which they can continue their passions, yet remain safe. For some, it potentially determines their pursuit of post-secondary CONTINUE READING: WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE? – Dad Gone Wild

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

  Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

A VERY BUSY DAY

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

The latest news and resources in education since 2007

 

 

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_29.html

“Q&A Collections: Instructional Strategies”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

Q&A Collections: Instructional Strategies is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. All Classroom Q&A posts on Instructional Strategies (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post. Here’s an excerpt from one of them:

Classroom Instruction Resources Of The Week

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

Each week, I publish a post or two containing three or four particularly useful resources on classroom instruction, and you can see them all here. Of course, this is a crazy time for “classroom” instruction…. You might also be interested in THE BEST RESOURCES ON INSTRUCTION IN 2020 – PART ONE. Here are this week’s picks: This month’s issue of ASCD’s Educational Leadership is on grading. Here are

Tuesday’s Must-Read Articles & Must-Watch Videos On School Reopening

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

StockSnap / Pixabay Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL : Teachers across the world concerned as schools reopen despite rising cases is from NBC News. Florida students head back to class amid reports of more kids catching COVID-19 is from NBC News. A summary of April-August 2020. Public school officials to Congress: Give us more money to hel

Sept. 8th Is International Literacy Day – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

geralt / Pixabay The United Nations has declared September 8th to be International Literacy Day. You might be interested in The Best Resources For International Literacy Day .

TED-Ed’s New Video & Lesson Is On How Humanity Developed Language

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

geralt / Pixabay TED-Ed’s new video and lesson has a weird title, but has good content. You might also be interested in: IF YOU NEVER BOTHERED LEARNING ABOUT CHOMSKY’S THEORY OF UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR (LIKE ME), THE NEW TED-ED VIDEO IS FOR YOU! The Best Videos Documenting The History Of The English Language

Free NY Times Subscriptions For Any US High School Teacher & Their Students For The Next Year!

70by Larry Ferlazzo / 16h

Earlier this year , The NY Times offered free subscriptions to any U.S. high school teacher and their students who were at Title 1 schools. Now, however, they’ve expanded that offer to make it available to any and all high schools in the U.S. Apply here . Here’s their announcement : The mission of The New York Times — to seek the truth and help people understand the world — is critically importan

Colleges & Universities Are Having To Deal With “Classroom Management” Issues For One Of The First Times, & They Are Clueless

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

University and college administrators are acting like first-year K-12 teachers in dealing with the pandemic. As many articles document, they are leading with threats and punishments. The University of California campus in Davis, 

  Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language – radical eyes for equity

To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language – radical eyes for equity

To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language

ESPN radio has recently shaken up their on-air personalities across the daily schedule, notably replacing the morning slot held for many years by Mike & Mike (and a recent fractured version after Mike Greenberg left) with a clear signal toward diversity— as reported by Andrew Marchand:

And now, look who is moving into the predominantly white sports-radio neighborhood beginning Monday. It’s Keyshawn, Jay Williams & Zubin Mehenti….

How will it be different?

“First of all, we are three minorities,” Keyshawn said. “That is No. 1. There haven’t been three minorities that I know of on a morning national sports show.”

One of the traditional areas where radio and television in the U.S. has had a strict lack of diversity is the use of language; talking heads—even late-night talk show hosts—practice something of a radio voice (lacking distinct regional pronunciations) and so-called “standard English.”

While listening to the new and more diverse morning radio show on ESPN, I heard Keyshawn Johnson say about a river they were discussing that people “be jet-skiing” in it. The trio’s reactions made it clear this waterway was not safe for recreation.

Since it is early in my first-year writing seminars, I am still helping students re-orient their attitudes and assumptions about reading, writing, and language. A foundational re-orientation for my courses is moving away from seeing language use as “correct” or “incorrect” (as well as rejecting terms such as “standard English” and “non-standard dialect”) and cautioning students not to stigmatize language use as some distinct flag for intelligence or moral/ethical character.

Johnson’s use of “be” to capture a continuous “presentism” of an action along with the omission of “to be” verbs (“Keyshawn home all day”) are often markers for what some call “Black English” (I was taught about Black English through the work of Dillard in the 1970s, but “Ebonics” and “AAVE” have also been used to designate this language usage pattern).

Few people are likely to recognize that ESPN’s new line up is more than racial or cultural diversity; Johnson embodies the importance of language use CONTINUE READING: To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language – radical eyes for equity

Join the #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year! – I AM AN EDUCATOR

Join the Black Lives Matter At School “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year! – I AM AN EDUCATOR

Join the Black Lives Matter At School “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year!

Calling all educators, parents, students, and antiracist community organizers:  We call on you to join the Black Lives Matter at School new initiative, the “Year of Purpose”—a national program that calls on educators (and parents educating their kids at home) to answer reflection questions about developing their antiracist pedagogy and join in a day of action every month of the school year.

Since the 2016-2017 when Seattle educators and Philly educators launched the BLM at School movement, we have had a day of action and then a week of action for Black lives in the schools.  Those actions were important to raising awareness around the 13 principles of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and the four demands of our movement:

1. End “zero tolerance” discipline, and implement restorative justice
2. Hire more black teachers
3. Mandate Black history and ethnic studies in K-12 curriculum
4. Fund counselors not cops

But the BLM at School Week of Action was never meant to contain teaching for Black lives to a single week.  It was always meant as a catalyst for educators to take the work into their entire year.  Now BLM at School has developed a framework and a plan of action for how to join thousands of others around the country to make Black Lives Matter at school all year long. 

Here are some ways that educators, parents, students and antiracist organizers can support the Year of Purpose:

1. Sign the petition pledging to support the Year of Purpose.
2. Answer the year of purpose reflection questions and talk about them with colleges (see questions below).
3. Participate in the monthly days of action.
4. Ask your local educator’s union to endorse BLM at School’s Year of Purpose.

The first day of action in the year of purpose is on whatever your first day of school is.  Here is the call:

1) FIRST DAY: Black to School (Whatever date that is for you)

• Wear the shirt CONTINUE READING: Join the Black Lives Matter At School “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year! – I AM AN EDUCATOR