CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Tax Edition (3/27)

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Tax Edition (3/27)

Tax Edition 

Because ours are done. Fortunately, the finances of the Institute are uncomplicated (as zeros often are). Also, enjoy the annual hilarity of the $250 limit on teacher's professional expenses. But here's some reading for the week.

Cleveland charter schools uses public dollars to fight union drive

Tanisha Pruitt in the Ohio Capital Journal, detailing how one charter is using its covid relief funds to try to squelch a union drive by teachers. 

It's pride week in Austin schools. The Texas AG says that's illegal.

Washington Post coverage of a bald-faced campaign ploy to strike out--again--at LGBTQ students.

Schools nationwide are quietly removing books from their libraries

A Washington Post story about the entirely-predictable trend of gutless administrators unilaterally getting rid of any books that might "cause trouble." 

Texas superintendent tells librarians to pull books on sexuality, transgender people

Here's exactly the kind of gutless administrator we're talking about, quietly trying to cover his butt and avoid cranky phone calls.

My Little Town

Nancy Flanagan reflects on the racism, small town style. 

After losing book banning drive, some Moms for Liberty are aiming at Tennessee's school board

Jo Napolitano at The 74 has the story of how one high-profile Moms for Liberty group mostly failed with the book banning drive, and is now setting its sights on more high power targets.

How the Minneapolis Foundation bankrolls the destruction of public schools

At Racket, Rob Levine has the history and methodology of one of Minnesota's well-heeled corporate privatization groups, and just how much damage they've done. 

Inside the chaotic charter schools run by a for-profit company

Jeff Bryant has a look inside the schools run by Accel Schools. The chain doesn't know much about education, but it knows an awful lot about how vulture capitalism works by stripping "value" out of an "asset" and handing off the remains to the next extractor.

As legislators push so-called ‘anti-CRT’ bills citing discomfort, Black students ask whose feelings matter

WFPL reporters do a deep dive into this story about race and curriculum, asking whose voices are being heard.

Public school advocates launch effort to stop DeVos-backed voucher proposal

It never stops. In Michigan, DeVos and her buddies are attempting an end run around the governor by creating a ballot initiative to create tax credit scholarship tyle vouchers. But some public school supporters are organizing a response.

I study school choice, and DeVos's plan would hurt Michigan kids

An actual fan of school choice says that the DeVos plan for Michigan is bad news for kids.

Democrats hunting for footing in Education

This week Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire landed in the New York Times, explaining how Democrats are failing to get any ground on education. 

Did charter schools game the system with PPP loans?

Craig Harris takes a look at how charter schools snagged some small business covid loans (because whether a charter is a public school or a private business depends on which answer gets money). The original piece was a USA Today story, but this link will take you to the no-paywall Yahoo News version.

MGT Consulting and Somerset Academy: A Florida Case Study in Ed Reform Working for itself

The indispensable Mercedes Schneider makes sense of the convoluted story of Florida corruption and self-dealing (a story ironically that only came to light because two scams got in each others' way).

How Big Tech sees profit in Social and Emotional Learning at School

Anna Noble at Telegraf shows how big tech is getting its big greasy hands into SEL. Surprise, not.

Petaluma charter school lessons

Thomas Ultican with another of his well-researched deep dives, this time into the shenanigans around the establishment of another amateur-run charter school.

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Tax Edition (3/27)

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION

AND DON'T FORGET PETER GREENE ON FORBES CLICK HERE 

Congress Considers Lifetime Data Tracking For Post-High School Students - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2022/03/15/congress-considers-lifetime-data-tracking-for-post-high-school-students/?sh=5182fb673554 by @palan57 on @forbes

Think Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill Is Bad? Tennessee Is Considering One That’s Worse. - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2022/03/16/think-floridas-dont-say-gay-law-is-bad-tennessee-is-considering-one-thats-worse/?sh=6862ec906f83 by @palan57 on @forbes

Louisiana Bill Would Silence All Discussion Of Gender And Sex In Schools - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2022/03/19/louisiana-bill-would-silence-all-discussion-of-gender-and-sex-in-schools/?sh=60b2d8507f49 by @palan57 on @forbes

GAO Took A Closer Look At Virtual Charter Schools. The Results Are Not Encouraging. - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2022/03/09/gao-took-a-closer-look-at-virtual-charter-schools-the-results-are-not-encouraging/?sh=224747d5c94e by @palan57 on @forbes

 

PETER GREENE IS ON THE PROGRESSIVE CLICK HERE 

The Critical Flaw Behind Teacher Evaluations - Progressive.org - https://progressive.org/public-schools-advocate/critical-flaw-behind-teacher-evaluations-greene-210203/ 

Feds Propose Change In Charter School Grant Regulations

by Peter Greene / 1d

This is exactly the kind of boring policy wonk stuff that can make ordinary humans nod off. But it;'s worth paying attention to. It's even worth giving the feds your two cents. I'll tell you how at the end of this. First let me explain what's happening. The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is a federal grant program that gives charter schools money both for start-ups and expansions. It's a big, beau

Abbott Elementary and the Problem of TV Teachers

by Peter Greene / 1d

Abbott Elementary is the surprise hit of the year, particularly for teachers . The teachers are human beings, the stories are relatable while being recognizable for teachers. It adapts school life well to the mockumenbtary workplace comedy format, even if it hews too close to the formula in some places (the show blares its intention to run a long-simmering plotline in which the main character wil

NH: Lessons From Croydon's 50% School Budget Cut

200+by Peter Greene / 3d

Well, you can't pretend that the Free Staters of New Hampshire are at all secretive about what they have in mind. Here's the story of how they just went ahead and axed a school district budget. But first, let me fill in the background. The Free Staters are a bunch of folks who believe they can move into the Granite State, take over the levers of government, and then install their Libertarian drea

PA: New Charter Regs Are A Start

23by Peter Greene / 4d

Monday Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission gave a 3-2 victory to Governor Wolf's latest move in his ongoing attempts to update the state's decades-old charter regulations. These new regulations do not address some of the persistent issues (particularly PA's messed up funding system for charters), but it does provide a few pieces of much-needed transparency and accountability.

Public Education's PR Problem

100+by Peter Greene / 4d

Last week a New York Times opinion piece by Jessica Grose presented a conclusion that was not exactly news to those of us in the education world-- despite the loud yawling from the vicinity of the parents rights area, parents in this country are mostly happy with their children's schools. In fact, despite the pandemic-related chaos, according to Gallup, more parents were satisfied with the qualit

Read This Series About Hillsdale College and the Dismantling of Public Education

by Peter Greene / 5d

Teaching is our trade; also, I confess, it's our weapon. That's Larry Arrn, the president of Hillsdale College, the very right-wing Christianist college that has become a major force in the desire of folks who want to take education back from the government (perhaps best exemplified by Betsy DeVos). For these folks, it's not about competition or improving the nation's education base or bringing g

ICYMI: Springtime Edition (3/20)

by Peter Greene / 7d

Pretty sure it's practically spring, more or less. Not that that means a lot around here, but still, it's nice to mark the seasons. Here's your reading for the week. Lot of paywalls this time--my apologies. Who's unhappy with schools? The answer surprised me. The answer probably won't surprise you. But there are some good data here in this New York Times story about how the failing schools narrat

CURMUDGUCATION - http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 26, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️

 Big Education Ape

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES

A LACK OF HONEST CONVERSATION – Dad Gone Wild - https://wp.me/p4d08y-38W via @norinrad10

CURMUDGUCATION: Feds Propose Change In Charter School Grant Regulations - https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2022/03/feds-propose-change-in-charter-school.html

Today, only two months into 2022, millionaires stop paying their Social Security tax. - https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/today-only-two-months-into-2022-millionaires?s=r

Putin’s Disinformation Campaign Collapses When He Orders Invasion of Ukraine | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vFZ via @dianeravitch

Students and Teachers As Reformers: Garfield High School (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice - https://wp.me/pBm7c-8wb via @CubanLarry

Berkshire & Schneider: Democrats Need a New Message About Education | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vJT via @dianeravitch

Blue Cereal Education - https://bluecerealeducation.com/

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Announce Joint Effort to Develop and Share Resources to Ensure Children Have Access to School-Based Health Services | U.S. Department of Education - https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-secretary-miguel-cardona-hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-announce-joint-effort-develop-and-share-resources-ensure-children-have-access-school-based-health-services

USA TODAY: Should Charter Schools Pay Back the Federal Money They Took Without Need? | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vKH via @dianeravitch

Shakespearean Troupe Performs in Rural West Virginia, Bringing the Bard to His Roots in Popular Culture | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vsx via @dianeravitch

Day Three Of Our Strike & The State Superintendent Of Public Instruction Intervenes | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=125719 on @Larryferlazzo

Now they’ve pissed off the librarians! – wsg Joyce McIntosh, Freedom to Read advocate | Eclectablog - https://www.eclectablog.com/?p=73336 on @Eclectablog

Big Education Ape: SPECIAL: THE SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED STRIKE - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/special-sacramento-city-unified-strike.html

Ex-GOP Gov Candidate Calls For ‘Firing Squad’ For Transgender Allies - https://www.mississippifreepress.org/22283/ex-gop-gov-candidate-calls-for-firing-squad-for-trans-rights-supporters-political-foes/ via @msfreepress

Practical Ways Schools Can Support Student Learning Now (Opinion) - https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-practical-ways-schools-can-support-student-learning-now/2022/03 by @Larryferlazzo on @educationweek

Philly school board adopts preliminary 2023 budget despite opposition https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2022/3/25/22996900/philly-school-board-budget-pleas-principals-schools-suffer via @ChalkbeatPHL

Farm Fresh Produce LLC Recalls Mixed Mushrooms - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/recallfarmfremixmushroom.asp

Recommended: Furman faculty pass resolution rejecting pending state legislation aimed at academic freedom – academic freedom isn't free - https://wp.me/p2GmBR-arp via @plthomasEdD

Blog Posts Archive - Network For Public Education - https://networkforpubliceducation.org/best-posts/ on @Network4pubEd

Kids Are Learning History From Video Games Now https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/history-video-games-europa-universalis/622892/?utm_source=feed

NewBlackMan (in Exile) - https://www.newblackmaninexile.net/ via @NewBlackMan

LARB Radio Hour: Danielle Lindemann's 'True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us'

by Mark Anthony Neal / 2h

' Danielle Lindemann joins LARB Radio Hour today to talk about her latest book, True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us . Bouncing between the ideas of major thinkers in modern sociology, including Emile Durkheim, Michel Foucault, and others, the book explores how reality TV both reflects and reproduces the real-world social tensions, inequities and slippages around class, race, gender, sexuali

Creative Control: Patreon CEO Jack Conte on the Creative Middle Class

by Mark Anthony Neal / 2h

'As the cofounder and CEO of Patreon (and a creator himself), Jack Conte ’s whole mission has been helping creators make a stable living. Patreon allows creators to charge monthly or annual subscription fees for access to their content. And since the company started nine years ago, it’s paid out $3.5 billion to more than 250,000 creators. Patreon itself was recently valued at $4 billion, so clear

L.A. Unity Cruise: Over 100 Lowriders ‘Cruise for Justice’ from East Los Angeles to City Hall - L.A. TACO - https://www.lataco.com/?p=112568 via @lataco

AFT and AAUP meet with Colorado gov. about proposed union bill – Ballotpedia News - https://news.ballotpedia.org/?p=19752

Texas AG Ken Paxton says Austin schools' Pride Week is "immoral" and "illegal" https://www.salon.com/2022/03/25/texas-ken-paxton-says-austin-schools-pride-week-is-immoral-and-illegal/

Pandemic Caused Black and Latino Students to Cancel their College Plans at a Disproportionate Rate https://www.theroot.com/pandemic-caused-black-and-latino-students-to-cancel-the-1848704601

Behind The Lens episode 162: The ‘clickbait’ special https://thelensnola.org/2022/03/25/behind-the-lens-episode-162-the-clickbait-special/

How School Boards Became a Frontline in Partisan Warfare | Time - https://time.com/6159177/school-board-elections-covid-19-critical-race-theory/#new_tab on @TIME

Montgomery County schools’ anti-racist audit to examine its curriculums https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/26/montgomery-county-schools-antiracism-audit/

Marion Joseph, who changed the way California children learned to read, dies https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/marion-joseph-california-education-reading

Stung by pandemic fallout, Sacramento teachers strike for a third day https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/sacramento-teachers-and-school-workers-wrap-up-day-three-of-strike

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ on @Larryferlazzo

Classroom Instruction Resources Of The Week

by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h

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. You might also be interested in THE BEST RESOURCES ON INSTRUCTION IN 2021 – PART ONE . Here are this week’s picks: This is an interesting post by Dan Meyer: We Should Wish PhotoMath All The Success In The World . I’m adding it to The Best Apps, Online

A Look Back: 26 Places To Get The “Same” Text At Different Levels

by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h

I’m continuing my “A Look Back” series by looking at past “Best” lists and updating them. geralt / Pixabay I originally posted The Best Places To Get The “Same” Text Written For Different “Levels” in 2014, and have been revising and updating it since that time. It’s consistently been one of my most popular posts. The list includes sites like Newsela , News In Levels , Tween Tribune , and 23 more,

Day Three Of Our Strike & The State Superintendent Of Public Instruction Intervenes

by Larry Ferlazzo / 17h

After a third day of picketing at our schools, and then holding a massive protest and march in downtown Sacramento, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has called for a negotiation session of all parties (see video below). Assuming this happens later today, it will be the first time in several years our district’s superintendent has actually participated in a bargaining sessi

NJ Senate OKs bill to remove this test for aspiring teachers https://www.njspotlightnews.org/video/nj-senate-oks-bill-to-remove-this-test-for-aspiring-teachers/

Utah bans transgender athletes in girls sports despite governor's veto https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088908741/utah-transgender-athletes-veto-override

New Orleans rescinds a long-ignored rule prohibiting jazz and dancing in schools https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088879159/new-orleans-rescinds-a-long-ignored-rule-prohibiting-jazz-and-dancing-in-schools

Virginia's law barring mask mandates does not apply to 12 children with disabilities https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088849364/virginia-mask-mandate-schools

Data of 820,000 NYC students compromised in hack of online grading system: Education Dept. https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/ny-hack-illuminate-online-gradebook-compromised-personal-data-20220325-ahy3b3b3t5cjzajau63muqcniq-story.html#ed=rss_www.nydailynews.com/arcio/rss/category/new-york/education/

'America will fall' unless GOP voters adopt new litmus test of defunding 'gov ed': Newsmax host https://www.rawstory.com/republicans-defund-gov-ed/

Montana sending troubled kids to programs that Paris Hilton and other students have accused of abuse https://www.rawstory.com/montana-is-sending-troubled-kids-to-out-of-state-programs-that-have-been-accused-of-abuse-2657040509/

Fact Check: Sacramento City Unified teachers aren’t the highest paid, but health benefits top the list https://www.kcra.com/article/fact-check-sacramento-city-unified-teachers-pay-health-benefits-top-the-list/39532297

UPDATE: Thurmond wants Sacramento City Unified district and union leaders to return to the bargaining table https://edsource.org/thurmond-wants-sacramento-city-unified-district-and-union-leaders-to-return-to-the-bargaining-table

Sacramento City Unified strike: What the district offered the teachers' union and a history of strife https://news.yahoo.com/sacramento-city-unified-strike-district-234613471.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr via @yahooNewsUK

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten to Visit Schools in Upper Darby and William Penn Districts to Highlight Innovative Pandemic Recovery Efforts | U.S. Department of Education - https://www.ed.gov/news/media-advisories/us-deputy-secretary-education-cindy-marten-visit-schools-upper-darby-and-william-penn-districts-highlight-innovative-pandemic-recovery-efforts

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 26, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_26.html

Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 26, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/top-posts-this-week-saturday-march-26.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, March 18, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_18.html

Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_26.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/2022/03/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_26.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-education-research-report_26.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_26.html

Big Education Ape: SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/sspi-tony-thurmond-stuff-this-week-from_26.html

Big Education Ape: TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/teacher-tom-this-week-in-early_26.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-weeks-wildness-dad-gone-wild_26.html

Big Education Ape: Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/network-for-public-education-blog-post_26.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT AND A TENNESSESS HOLLER - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-weeks-tennessee-education-report_26.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK NEWS FROM DR. MIGUEL CARDONA AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-news-from-dr-miguel-cardona_26.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 19, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_19.html

Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 19, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/top-posts-this-week-saturday-march-19.html

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