THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 27, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

 Big Education Ape

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES 

Philadelphia will use federal relief money on building repair, academic recovery, and dealing with trauma  https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/3/26/22353237/philadelphia-will-use-federal-relief-on-building-repair-academic-recovery-and-dealing-with-trauma via @ChalkbeatPHL

Nutrition - Learning Support (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/

After A Year Of Remote Classes, Teachers Are Meeting Students For The First Time https://www.scpr.org/news/2021/03/27/97206/after-a-year-of-remote-classes-teachers-are-meetin/ via @kpcc

Reauthorization of child nutrition programs moves forward https://educationvotes.nea.org/2021/03/26/reauthorization-of-child-nutrition-programs-moves-forward/

Cindy Marten, Education Department nominee, appears before key Senate https://educationvotes.nea.org/2021/03/26/cindy-marten-education-department-nominee-appears-before-key-senate/

3 States Have Passed Laws Targeting Transgender Athletes This Month Alone https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tennessee-anti-transgender-athletes-law_n_605e6747c5b67593e058a320

25,000 new NYC students have signed up for in-person classes https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-nyc-schools-in-person-classes-20210326-soc5wi6br5hqdff7m27l7unbqm-story.html#ed=rss_www.nydailynews.com/arcio/rss/category/new-york/education/

As Pandemic Upends Teaching, Fewer Students Want to Pursue It https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/27/us/covid-school-teaching.html

Education Research Report: Early Child Care in Single-Parent and Two-Parent Families - http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2021/03/early-child-care-in-single-parent-and.html

Registration Open for Virtual Child Care Forums - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/regvirtualchildcareforum.asp

Cash-in-Lieu of USDA Foods Survey - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/cashinlieuusdafoodsurvey.asp

Amid background check investigation, Singleton Charter appoints interim CEO | The Lens - https://thelensnola.org/?p=562074 by @https://twitter.com/martajewson on @TheLensNOLA

Sexton’s Anti-Muslim, Insurrectionist Choice for Textbook Commission Wins Committee Endorsement – Tennessee Education Report - http://tnedreport.com/?p=5225 via @TNEdReport

AFT Leader Worried Social-Distance Cut Too Close for Comfort | News of the Week | thechiefleader.com - https://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/aft-leader-worried-social-distance-cut-too-close-for-comfort/article_b1985ec8-8e72-11eb-9a7d-0b69a2b6b172.html on @thechiefleader

Big Education Ape: How a $25 million donation for summer schools got ensnared in San Francisco politics - Vox - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/how-25-million-donation-for-summer.html

Big Education Ape: Florina Rodov: What Turned Me Against Charter Schools - LA Progressive - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/florina-rodov-what-turned-me-against.html

Big Education Ape: Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests | Eclectablog - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/nows-time-to-get-rid-of-standardized.html

Big Education Ape: Marion Brady: Free Courses of Study to Think Differently | Diane Ravitch's blog - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/marion-brady-free-courses-of-study-to.html

Big Education Ape: glen brown: "Several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so" - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/glen-brown-several-experts-are.html

Big Education Ape: CURMUDGUCATION: Cardona's Failed Non-Defense Defense of 2021 Testing - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/curmudgucation-cardonas-failed-non.html

Big Education Ape: IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM – Dad Gone Wild - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/it-was-all-just-dream-dad-gone-wild.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-from-us-department-of.html

Big Education Ape: Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/network-for-public-education-blog-post_27.html

Big Education Ape: EDUCATION MATTERS: CATCH UP WITH MR. G - THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DCPS - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/education-matters-catch-up-with-mr-g_27.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-weeks-wildness-dad-gone-wild_27.html

Big Education Ape: TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/tennessee-education-report_27.html

Big Education Ape: TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/teacher-tom-this-week-in-early_27.html

Big Education Ape: SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/sspi-tony-thurmond-stuff-this-week-from_27.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_27.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-education-research-report_27.html

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/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_27.html

Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe #CANCELTHETEST - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_27.html

 Big Education Ape

How a $25 million donation for summer schools got ensnared in San Francisco politics - Vox

How a $25 million donation for summer schools got ensnared in San Francisco politics - Vox

How a $25 million donation to help students got ensnared in politics

San Francisco is once again fighting over billionaires’ philanthropic power.

Billionaire philanthropy is once again on the defense in San Francisco, the home of many a tech billionaire.

The latest backlash centers on a city proposal to get 20,000 schoolchildren some in-person teaching and playtime this summer, after city public schools have been closed for more than a year during the pandemic. But a liberal lawmaker has temporarily derailed the initiative to raise questions about the involvement of a volunteer group that she worries is pushing a political agenda.

The saga is another flashpoint in the debate over the proper role of billionaire philanthropists — and their affiliated nonprofits — in society. And it is a window into how the city that is home to tech wealth is increasingly suspicious of civic projects from those tech leaders. Late last year, San Francisco officially condemned Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for his errors at Facebook after he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $75 million to a local hospital.

Here’s what happened: Earlier this month, San Francisco announced that a foundation called Crankstart, funded by famous Sequoia venture capitalist Mike Moritz and his wife, Harriet Heyman, was donating $25 million to help start a city initiative to offer free summer school or day care programs to kids. The program would be aided by an outside advocacy group called TogetherSF that was formed last year to work on civic projects in the city and has also, separately, been funded by Crankstart. Crankstart brokered the arrangement between TogetherSF and the summer school program.

But TogetherSF’s involvement has become controversial — and is being cast by one San CONTINUE READING: How a $25 million donation for summer schools got ensnared in San Francisco politics - Vox

Florina Rodov: What Turned Me Against Charter Schools - LA Progressive

What Turned Me Against Charter Schools - LA Progressive

What Turned Me Against Charter Schools

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 CONTINUE READING: What Turned Me Against Charter Schools - LA Progressive

MITCHELL ROBINSON: Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests | Eclectablog

Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests | Eclectablog

Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests

f you’re wondering how even in a deadly global pandemic, standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are still surviving, like education “zombies,” just follow the money.

• Over $1.7 billion is spent on standardized testing in the US each year.

• Another $669 million is spent on elementary assessments.

• Between $34-65 per student per year is spent by the states on standardized testing.

• It costs $68 to register for SAT w/essay; $67 for ACT w/writing (college admissions exam). This money is either paid directly by families, or schools cover the costs for their students–either way, these dollars are coming from tax payers.

• The cost for AP exams (high school advanced placement exams) is $94 per test.

• The fee is $300 for the edTPA (new teacher exam).

Who is making all this money???

• $762 million in 2018 profits for Pearson, the education testing multinational conglomerate, on revenues of $5.511 billion.

• $89 million in additional profit for Pearson from its ownership stake in Penguin Random House Publishers, a major world school textbook publishing company.

• And that money is not being divided up very equitably among Pearson’s employees. The average Pearson salary ranges from approximately $25,000 per year for Test Scorer (not a lot more than CONTINUE READING: Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Standardized Tests | Eclectablog

Marion Brady: Free Courses of Study to Think Differently | Diane Ravitch's blog

Marion Brady: Free Courses of Study to Think Differently | Diane Ravitch's blog

Marion Brady: Free Courses of Study to Think Differently

Marion Brady is a progressive educator who has never given up the fight to make education a lively and engaging experience.

He wrote the following to me:

Diane,The courses of study I give away were developed for Prentice-Hall over a period of seven years, working with dozens of middle school teachers nationwide. They taught every lesson, providing feedback and suggestions, and those that P-H thought were most insightful were brought together for a week at the end of every semester to go over final versions. 
P-H shelved it and gave me copyrights when the marketing department concluded that Phyllis Schafley’s claim that departures from tradition were a slippery slope to communism.
Since my brother and I put them online and free, downloads of files range from 600 to 1600 per week without a dime to advertise. 
Standardized testing is the major obstacle to acceptance.I’ve double-checked the links. They’re important.
Thanks much for all you do.

Marion

Salvaging public schooling

By Marion Brady

Public schooling should be the bedrock of democracy, but the institution’s failure to produce a citizenry more resistant to authoritarianism and fantastical conspiracy theories is surely evidence of a serious institutional problem. 

Unfortunately, it’s also a problem that most schools are CONTINUE READING: Marion Brady: Free Courses of Study to Think Differently | Diane Ravitch's blog

glen brown: "Several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so"

glen brown: "Several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so"

"Several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so"

“Late last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance on school reopening, saying that 3 feet, not 6 feet, of physical distancing between students was sufficient in most elementary schools—regardless of the level of community spread of COVID-19.

“At the same time that CDC officials were updating school policy, they were also warning that B117, a variant strain 50% more transmissible than the wild-type virus, would likely become the dominant strain in the United States by April. In some states, such as Florida and California, the variant, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, already accounts for 25% of cases.

“Now several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so.

CDC, states struggle with school openings

“Across America almost all schools closed in March and April of 2020 as the pandemic entered its first wave and peaked in places like New York City. A barrier to reopening in the fall, especially in crowded, urban school districts, was that classrooms could not accommodate students with the CDC-recommended 6 feet of physical distancing.

“The CDC said mounting evidence shows little difference in school transmission rates when students are separated by 3 or 6 feet, and it points to mounting research on student mental health, physical health, and even parental job security that shows that in-person instruction is superior for most American children and families.

“‘It's a balance,’ said Ruth Lynfield, MD, Minnesota state epidemiologist. Minnesota, along with Michigan, and North Carolina, has seen school-related B117 outbreaks spread into the community in recent weeks. ‘We are in a race to vaccinate as variants spread, and currently kids and their CONTINUE READING: glen brown: "Several experts are concerned that schools may be opening during an inflection point in the pandemic and are being misguided about how to do so"

CURMUDGUCATION: Cardona's Failed Non-Defense Defense of 2021 Testing

CURMUDGUCATION: Cardona's Failed Non-Defense Defense of 2021 Testing

Cardona's Failed Non-Defense Defense of 2021 Testing

USED Secretary Miguel Cardona appeared on All In With Chris Hayes, and while much of the interview centered on the issue of re-opening schools, it also included this exchange:

HAYES: There`s been some controversy around or some debate around standardized testing this year for understandable reasons. Arguments go in both directions, right? One is, you want to have a guidepost to measure precisely the effects we`re talking about, the other is it seems insane to subject schools to standardized -- children to standardized testing given the least standardized year in American history.

500 researchers and scholars wrote a letter to you basically saying, don`t force schools to give standardized tests this pandemic year, that it made no sense. It would exacerbate inequality and produce flawed data. There will be standardized testing this year. Why do you think that`s a good idea?

CARDONA: You know, this is analogous to the decisions, the difficult decisions that leaders had to make last July when we talked about reopening schools. And we know that there`s no one-size-fits-all. You know, when we were thinking about reopening schools, we have very small schools and we have very large schools, and states that had high numbers and states that have very low numbers of COVID. So, there`s no one size fits all.

So the flexibilities that were announced by the department last month, allowed for some of that variance. But let me tell you very clearly, that when we`re pushing out $130 billion state-level CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Cardona's Failed Non-Defense Defense of 2021 Testing

IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM – Dad Gone Wild

IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM – Dad Gone Wild

IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM

“You’re nothing more than a clever prostitute. You accepted the conditions in which you found yourself and you triumphed.”
― E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime

 

Growing up, the most popular show in the country was “Dallas”. For those of you too young to remember, “Dallas” was a nighttime soap centered on a Texas oil family and their many machinations. Each season ended with a cliffhanger, with the intent of holding viewers’ interest over the Summer until new episodes debuted in the Fall.

This was all before the rise of cable TV, so I understand if you younger folks are a little confused, but bear with me. The most successful cliffhanger was when antagonist J.R. Ewing was shot and we all spent the summer trying to decipher who the killer was. The phrase, “Who shot J.R.?” was on everyone’s lips throughout the summer.

In 1986, the “Dallas” producers tried once tried to catch lightning in the bottle by kicking off the season with the jealous Katherine running down the popular Bobby with her car because she was in love with him, Bobby later died in the hospital. The season unfolded from there, until the last episode in which Bobby’s ex-wife Pamela awoke in her bed, the entire year had been nothing but a CONTINUE READING: IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM – Dad Gone Wild

THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

MAR 25

ICYMI: Department of Education hosts National Safe School Reopening Summit

2d

On March 24, 2021, the Department of Education hosted the National Safe School Reopening Summit. The summit gathered key education stakeholders from around the nation to discuss best practices on reopening schools quickly and safely. The program featured remarks from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel

MAR 24

Statement from U.S Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona regarding NAEP 2021 School Survey

30 3d

“Today’s findings from the National Center for Education Statistics show encouraging early progress in states and communities’ efforts to reopen schools safely and quickly. As of February, 76% of schools were open for full-time or hybrid learning. While schools continue to show us what’s possible as they work to open their doors and meet students’ needs, we know that we still have a lot of ground

Biden-Harris Administration to Announce New Actions to Help Schools Reopen Safely and Meet Students’ Needs

73 3d

Today, at the National Safe School Reopening Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Education (Department), President Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will announce additional steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to help schools safely and quickly reopen and meet the needs of all students.

How the U.S. Department of Education is Helping Schools Reopen Safely and Meet the Needs of Students

3d

COVID-19 has been devastating for students and families. Despite heroic work by educators, staff, and families, the pandemic has led to increased absences, interruptions in learning opportunities and outcomes, more hungry kids and families, and more social isolation. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequities for students from low-income backgrounds; Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American

MAR 23

National Safe School Reopening Summit to Include President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and More

4d

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver pre-taped remarks during the virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit, which will be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 12 p.m. – 3:30 p m EDT. The Summit is one of a series of steps the Department is taking to provide support and resources to schools as the

MAR 22

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Provides Puerto Rico Department of Education Access to Pandemic Relief Aid and Other Grant Funds

4d

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today sent a letter to The Honorable Pedro Pierluisi, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, informing him that the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has provided the Commonwealth immediate access to $912 million in Federal education funds, which had not been available to Puerto Rico as a result of previously imposed grant conditions.

U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Assistance for Students and Institutions Through HEERF Grant Program and Expanded SNAP Benefits

5d

To provide ongoing relief from the COVID-19 emergency and implement provisions in the American Rescue Plan recently signed by President Biden, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) is announcing additional benefits, outreach, flexibilities, and guidance to assist students, federal student aid applicants, and institutions of higher educations.

Department of Education Announces Action to Streamline Borrower Defense Relief Process

100+ 5d

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced it will streamline debt relief determinations for borrowers with claims approved to date that their institution engaged in certain misconduct. The Department will be rescinding the formula for calculating partial relief and adopting a streamlined approach for granting full relief under the regulations to borrower defense claims approve

MAR 17

Department of Education Announces American Rescue Plan Funds for All 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to Help Schools Reopen

200+ 9d

Today, less than a week after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the amount of ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding that each State, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia will receive to support their efforts to reopen K-12 schools safely this month and equitably expand opportunity for s

Department of Education to Host National Safe School Reopening Summit on Wednesday, March 24

53 9d

Following the passage of the American Rescue Plan recently signed by President Biden, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced more details today regarding the virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit, which will take place on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 12pm EDT. The summit program will include welcoming remarks from First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as well as remarks from Secretary of Educ

MAR 12

U.S. Department of Education Continues Aggressive Plan to Safely Reopen Schools

27 14d

Following President Biden's signing the American Rescue Plan into law, the U.S. Department of Education announced additional details on its plans to support schools in safely returning to in-person instruction. The Department of Education will provide best practices, guidance, and support to schools as they navigate reopening, while the American Rescue Plan will provide $130 billion to help school

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Signing of the American Rescue Plan

14d

"The American Rescue Plan is a victory for our nation's students and schools. As I have said since being sworn into office, my top priority is getting students back into schools safely. The $130 billion in this plan will ensure K-12 educators, students, and parents, especially those most impacted by this pandemic, have what they need to resume and sustain in-person learning in classrooms as quickl

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Federal Student Aid Leadership

14d

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued the following statement regarding Federal Student Aid leadership:

MAR 02

U.S. Department of Education Announces More Biden-Harris Appointees

25d

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced more political appointees that will lead various parts of the agency. These diverse and accomplished individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise

THIS WEEK FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION