CURMUDGUCATION: ND: Kneecapping Public Education

CURMUDGUCATION: ND: Kneecapping Public Education

ND: Kneecapping Public Education

North Dakota's governor just signed SB 2196 into law, allowing the state to quietly slip forward in 2021's race to dismantle public education. While other state legislatures have focused on vouchers, North Dakota took its leap forward by focusing on unbundling and competency based education.

SB 2196 is short and the changes it enacts even shorter. It amends the rules about instructional time requirements with this sentence:

Establish and certify a North Dakota competency framework to allow students who have demonstrated content mastery of units required under sections 15.1-21-01 and 15.1-21-02 to waive unit instructional time requirements under section 15.1-21-03.

In headline-ready English, that means the bill will "expand learning outside classroom." Or as state K-12 Superintendent Kirsten Baesler puts it, "A student’s ability to learn is not completely dependent upon how much time he or she spends sitting in a classroom." Baesler was a school librarian, a principal, and a school board member. In office since 2013, she was a proponent of Common Core (she also has two arrests--one for domestic violence and another for DUI).

The bill now allows students to accumulate school credit for "community volunteer projects, internships, and other educational options." Baesler has thrown some other language at it, touting "personalization" and "methods of learning." She asserts that it will do these things "while CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: ND: Kneecapping Public Education

VIDEO: Secretary of Education on push to reopen schools ‘this spring’ -MSNBC

Secretary of Education on push to reopen schools ‘this spring’

Secretary of Education on push to reopen schools ‘this spring’

“I want to make sure that we have opportunities for all students to reengage in in-person learning—this spring,” says Biden’s new Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. 

Secretary of Education on push to reopen schools ‘this spring’

Citation and Credibility: Three Lessons – radical eyes for equity

Citation and Credibility: Three Lessons – radical eyes for equity

Citation and Credibility: Three Lessons

In my three courses this fall, students are now all working on scholarly essays that incorporate high-quality sources (focusing on peer-reviewed journal articles). Since the work lies primarily in the field of education, students are using APA style guides.

Often when teaching students citation, we focus our lessons on (the drudgery of) formatting and idiosyncratic citation structures (APA’s annoying lowercase/upper case peculiarities, for example, in bibliographies) as well as the challenges of finding and evaluating a reasonable amount of valid sources to support the claims of the essay.

Students often struggle with evaluating sources for bias, and honestly, they are not well equipped to recognize flawed or ideologically skewed reports that appear to be in credible journals and are themselves well cited.

Part of the problem has been well documented by Gerald Bracey; citing Paul Krugman, Bracey confronts the rise of think tanks that promote their agendas through the veneer of scholars and scholarly reports. Then, Bracey notes, “[t]he media don’t help much. By convention, they present, at best, ‘balanced’ articles, not critical investigative pieces” (p. xvi). This is what I have labeled “both sides” journalism.

While scholarly writing and citation can often slip into a circus of minutia, one CONTINUE READING: Citation and Credibility: Three Lessons – radical eyes for equity

“March Madness” and “Spring Stupidity” | The Merrow Report

“March Madness” and “Spring Stupidity” | The Merrow Report

“March Madness” and “Spring Stupidity”

Because the annual NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships are underway, I’d like to draw an analogy between Basketball’s “March Madness and the “Spring Stupidity” of Standardized Testing, which the Biden Administration is bent on enforcing.

Let’s start with what’s likely to be on the tests. This sample problem was offered by the University of Wisconsin/Oshkosh to high school math teachers and was designed to help ‘Close the Math Achievement Gap.’

Jack shot a deer that weighed 321 pounds. Tom shot a deer that weighed 289 pounds.   How much more did Jack’s deer weigh than Tom’s deer?

Here’s another question, whichI found on a high school math test in Oregon:

There are 6 snakes in a certain valley.  The population doubles every year. In how many years will there be 96 snakes?

a. 2

b. 3

c. 4

d. 8

These high school math problems require simple numeracy at most.  With enough practice, just about anyone can solve undemanding problems like that–and CONTINUE READING: “March Madness” and “Spring Stupidity” | The Merrow Report

Florina Rodov: I Believed the Charter School Myth — Until I Learned About the Reality and Who Was Behind It | Ed Politics JEFF BRYANT

Florina Rodov: I Believed the Charter School Myth — Until I Learned About the Reality and Who Was Behind It | Ed Politics

FLORINA RODOV: I BELIEVED THE CHARTER SCHOOL MYTH — UNTIL I LEARNED ABOUT THE REALITY AND WHO WAS BEHIND

I fell for the charter school hype. I agreed with former President Obama’s education secretary Arne Duncan who advocated for “school choice.” I trusted the research that said charters “close [the] achievement gap” for Black and Latino students. When I saw “Waiting for ‘Superman,’” I rooted for the kids in the documentary to escape their failing public schools by snagging spots at charter schools. And though I encountered very few bad teachers in my four years teaching and 12 years learning at public schools, I never questioned why Time published stories about “Rotten Apple” teachers being swept out of classrooms by wealthy education “reformers.”

I believed the hype so much that in 2012, knowing almost nothing about charter schools and having no administrative experience, I joined a friend in submitting a half-baked petition to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) with the intention of starting our own charter school. When LAUSD denied it, we presented it to the Culver City Unified School District, which also, rightfully, rejected it.

Still intrigued by charters, in 2016 I interviewed for an English teacher position with a woman I’ll call Ellen Peters, the principal and co-founder of Savior Academy, a charter school serving grades six through 12. (The names of the school, administrators and students have been changed for this story.) Her assertion that the close bond between students and staff made it feel “like a family” inspired me to sign a non-union contract on the spot, though the school had recently lost its co-founder Cathy Reynolds (name changed), who stepped down from the board, and several teachers, who resigned.

But the chasm between the hype and reality became evident to me immediately upon starting work. There were high attrition rates of students and teachers. Over the summer, more than half the faculty resigned and were replaced by new teachers. About three-quarters of the students hadn’t returned either, and though new kids had registered, the enrollment wasn’t CONTINUE READING: Florina Rodov: I Believed the Charter School Myth — Until I Learned About the Reality and Who Was Behind It | Ed Politics

Teacher Tom: Opt Out!

Teacher Tom: Opt Out!

Opt Out!

In mid-December 2019, on the eve of the the plague that changed our lives, the New York Times reported under the headline "I Just Isn't Working":

The performance of American teenagers in reading and math has been stagnant since 2000, accordion to the latest results of a rigorous international exam, despite a decades-long efforts to raise standards and help students compete with peers across the globe.

Here is most of the cruel failings of American public education, all packed into a single lede: high stakes standardized testing, the blind assumption that curricular standardization is a good thing, the corrosive notion of competition amongst children, and the narrow, narrow, narrow focus on reading a math. Yet even here, where the journalist has apparently bought into all the make-believe theories of the corporate education dilettante "reformers," their efforts have been a disastrous failure, even when measured by their own precious measuring tool: the standardized test. For decades now, through No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, the Common Core, and Every Student Succeeds, those responsible for education policy at every level have turned our schools into test score coal CONTINUE READING: Teacher Tom: Opt Out!

Did They Even Read This? – Tennessee Education Report

Did They Even Read This? – Tennessee Education Report

DID THEY EVEN READ THIS?

t’s not clear that the Department of Education previewed or even actually read the words in a document intended to dissuade parents from opting their children out of state standardized tests.

While activists in Tennessee and around the country are encouraging the Biden Administration to grant testing waivers, parents are not waiting and are taking matters into their own hands.

In fact, when one parent recently indicated to a school principal that their child would be “opting out” of state testing in 2021, they were provided with a one page document from the Tennessee Department of Education explaining that opting-out is not an option.

Here’s that letter:

Opting Out of Annual Assessments 

October 2020 Updated 10/19/2020 

What is the Purpose of Annual Assessments? 

Annual assessments are critical to ensure that all students are making strong academic progress. In Tennessee, one measure of  student, school, and district academics is through the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), which are tests  aligned with our state’s academic standards, outlining what students are expected to know, guiding educators as they design their  lessons and curriculum. As Tennessee’s teachers work to equip all students with the knowledge and skills they need, we have to  ensure that we can identify any major gaps in students’ learning and find variations in growth among different schools – both so we  can strengthen support in places that need it and learn from educators and students who are excelling. 

Results from TCAP tests give both teachers and parents a unique feedback loop and big-picture perspective to better understand  how students are progressing and how to support their academic development. This yearly academic check-up is the best way to see  how all students in Tennessee are doing, and it is one key measure through which we learn if are meeting our responsibility to  prepare all students for college and the workforce. Because of the importance of annual assessment, we believe it is crucial for all  students to take all TCAP tests each year.  

May parents opt their students out of testing? 

State and federal law requires student participation in state assessments. These CONTINUE READING: Did They Even Read This? – Tennessee Education Report

Tim Slekar: A Survey of Teachers | Diane Ravitch's blog

Tim Slekar: A Survey of Teachers | Diane Ravitch's blog

Tim Slekar: A Survey of Teachers

If you are a teacher, you are invited to participate in a survey.

Tim Slekar is writing a book about teachers and their working conditions. He would be grateful to teachers who agree to take the attached survey and return it to him. His email is Timslekar@gmail.com

Share this: 

Tim Slekar: A Survey of Teachers | Diane Ravitch's blog

Darcie Cimarusti: K12 Inc. and Charter Lobby Pushes for $$$ in Iowa | Diane Ravitch's blog

Darcie Cimarusti: K12 Inc. and Charter Lobby Pushes for $$$ in Iowa | Diane Ravitch's blog

Darcie Cimarusti: K12 Inc. and Charter Lobby Pushes for $$$ in Iowa

Darcie Cimarusti, communications director for the Network for Public Education, reports on the assault on public school funding in Iowa. K12 Inc., the for-profit virtual charter chain, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is noted for high attrition rates, low graduation rates, low test scores, and high profits. Its top executives are each paid millions of dollars.

In multiple states across the country omnibus schools choice bills with sweeping charter and voucher provisions have been introduced. NPE Action has been following these bills here. Just such a bill was introduced in Iowa, SSB 1065 which would modify the state’s existing charter CONTINUE READING: Darcie Cimarusti: K12 Inc. and Charter Lobby Pushes for $$$ in Iowa | Diane Ravitch's blog

New Report finds DOE overspent by many millions on charter school rental subsidies for charter schools and owed millions to co-located public schools for facility upgrades | Class Size Matters

New Report finds DOE overspent by many millions on charter school rental subsidies for charter schools and owed millions to co-located public schools for facility upgrades | Class Size Matters 

New Report finds DOE overspent by many millions on charter school rental subsidies for charter schools and owed millions to co-located public schools for facility upgrades

Analysis by Class Size Matters reveals that in FY 2020, over $11.6 million was spent on lease subsidies for charter schools owned by their Charter Management Organization or affiliated organization, and $9.6 million in state reimbursements for lease subsidies were sacrificed

New York, NY (March 25, 2021) – Today, Class Size Matters released a new report, posted here, showing that the DOE has overspent on rental subsidies to charter schools by many millions, and underspent by many millions on the legally required matching funds for public schools co-located with charters.

The new report, DOE Overspending on Charter School Facility Costs and Underspending on Matching Funds to Public Schools, includes updated information provided by the DOE in response to a letter sent by the New York City Comptroller’s Office about the findings of an earlier report produced by the nonprofit organization.

“We were surprised to find that the DOE confirmed many of the findings of our earlier report to the Comptroller, either directly or indirectly, and did not dispute any part of the report’s analysis, which showed that the DOE overspent by many millions on charter leases and underspent by many millions on matching funds to public schools,” said Leonie Haimson, the Executive Director of Class Size Matters.

The new report finds that in FY 2020, the DOE paid approximately $108 million for charter school rental subsidies with the state reimbursing about $65 million, amounts that are likely to increase rapidly each year, as enrollment and rental costs increase. Despite this, Governor Cuomo has proposed eliminating all state reimbursements for charter school rental assistance in his Executive budget, which is estimated to cost the city $100 million in FY 2022 and significantly increase in cost over future years.

“As this report makes clear, New York City is the only district in the state and the nation obligated to help pay for charter school rent and the costs are rising sharply every year,” said New York City Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm. “Now Governor Cuomo is threatening to eliminate any state CONTINUE READING: New Report finds DOE overspent by many millions on charter school rental subsidies for charter schools and owed millions to co-located public schools for facility upgrades | Class Size Matters 

What They’ve Lost – Have You Heard

What They’ve Lost – Have You Heard

What They’ve Lost

Students from Boston tell Have You Heard what they’ve lost during this year of pandemic learning. Spoiler: what you’ll hear bears little resemblance to the discussion of “learning loss” that’s atop the agenda of policy makers right now. Special guest Boston teacher Neema Avashia helps us make sense of the gap between how students are feeling and how adults with power are talking. Episode transcript is here.

The financial support of listeners like you keeps this podcast going. Subscribe on Patreon or donate on PayPal.

Have You Heard · #109 What They’ve Lost

What They’ve Lost – Have You Heard

Kentucky governor vetoes pension theft and voucher bills. Will the legislature vote to override pension bill? – Fred Klonsky

Kentucky governor vetoes pension theft and voucher bills. Will the legislature vote to override pension bill? – Fred Klonsky

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR VETOES PENSION THEFT AND VOUCHER BILLS. WILL THE LEGISLATURE VOTE TO OVERRIDE PENSION BILL?

Olivia Krauth Louisville Courier Journal

Calling them a “direct attack” on Kentucky’s public schools, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a set of controversial education bills Wednesday. 

Chief among the vetoed bills is House Bill 563, which would allow state funding to follow students who attend a public school outside of their home district and create a form of scholarship tax credits that would siphon millions from Kentucky’s general fund.

“Can we expect more from public education? Absolutely,” Beshear said Wednesday. “But the way to do that is not to defund it.”

The measure is “unconstitutional” on multiple fronts, Beshear said, and he expects it to face a legal challenge should his veto be overriden. 

The legislation landed on his desk after passing through the House on the slimmest CONTINUE READING: Kentucky governor vetoes pension theft and voucher bills. Will the legislature vote to override pension bill? – Fred Klonsky

CURMUDGUCATION: Covid, Learning Loss, and Katrina 2.0

CURMUDGUCATION: Covid, Learning Loss, and Katrina 2.0

Covid, Learning Loss, and Katrina 2.0

Well, here we go.

Here's Morgan Polikoff in the Los Angles Times, explaining that we are in a terrible mess, that educational attainment, or at least test scores (as measured by another testing manufacturer) are dropping, that the mental health of children in the nation is a mess. And hurray for the Biden relief plan, which throws a pile of money at all these education. But. But but but. Our educational structures can't handle this, Polikoff argues. Too many districts with boards and parent groups and teacher unions and families and students and they just aren't up to "identifying what works and then providing it equitably to students and families." 

What does he think has to happen?

This is where state and national leaders simply must step in. They need to provide clear and specific guidance on the best ways to spend American Rescue Plan dollars to address the negative impacts of the pandemic on children and families. They must not leave decisions to local actors — burdening them with the task of figuring out what works and implementing it.

Local control is a bad thing, and it needs to be swept aside, as witnessed by the data we have so far.

Polikoff asserts that three things are needed going forward in this state-controlled education universe. And number one is measurement--academic tests, social and emotional well-being tests. And they should go on for years "so we can follow our progress well beyond the end of the pandemic." Oh, and the "measurement plans should be carefully constructed to ensure the results are directly CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Covid, Learning Loss, and Katrina 2.0

Testimony on need for federal funds to be used for smaller classes next year, for safety and for enhanced academic and social support | Class Size Matters

Testimony on need for federal funds to be used for smaller classes next year, for safety and for enhanced academic and social support | Class Size Matters  | 

Testimony on need for federal funds to be used for smaller classes next year, for safety and for enhanced academic and social support

City Council Education budget hearings were held yesterday.  See our testimony below, advocating for a billion dollars of the federal funds NYC will receive of the $2.5 billion be used for smaller classes below for the sake of health, safety and to address the damage done by more than a year of remote learning.

Testimony on need for federal funds to be used for smaller classes next year, for safety and for enhanced academic and social support | Class Size Matters  | 

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

 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

THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_20.html

Today Is The Anniversary Of The Terrible Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h

Photo from The terrible Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire took place on this date in 1911. You might be interested in The Best Resources For Learning About The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire . Today is the 110th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, when 146 garment workers died. Some seeking to escape the flames jumped to their deaths from the 8th floor. We remember them today an

Easter & Passover Are Coming Up – Here Are Teaching & Learning Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo / 5h

annca / Pixabay Easter and Passover are coming up over the next few days. You might be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About Easter & Passover .

Thursday’s Must-Read Articles & Must-Watch Videos On School Reopenings

by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h

Peggy_Marco / Pixabay Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING (& SHOWING) WHAT SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC (you might also be interested in SCHOOLS WENT REMOTE A YEAR AGO – HERE ARE MY CHOICES FOR THE BEST PIECES WRITTEN ABOUT SCHOOL REOPENING SINCE THEN): Biden to Educators: It’s Time to Open the Schools is from US News. Today, @SecCardona announced the School Reopening Tou

“Alternatives to Standardized Tests During a Pandemic Year”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

Alternatives to Standardized Tests During a Pandemic Year is the headline of my latest Education Week column. Three educators suggest alternatives to federally mandated standardized testing during this year undercut by COVID-19. Here are two excerpts:

Statistic Of The Day: How Are Schools Going To Support Record Numbers Of Unaccompanied Minors?

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

Migrant teens and children have challenged three administrations, but Biden faces rush with no precedent from The Washington Post is the most recent article documenting the refugee challenge on our country’s southern Border. I have to say that it is pleasin

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