Monday, August 9, 2010

Obama on the road to promote higher-ed, raise cash - Boston.com

Obama on the road to promote higher-ed, raise cash

By Ben Feller

Associated Press Writer / August 9, 2010

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WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama's late-summer dash for campaign cash is picking up with two high-dollar fundraisers in Texas for the Democratic Party.

His other business Monday will be a speech underscoring his commitment to higher education, although no new policy announcements are expected.

From Washington to New York City to Atlanta to Chicago, Obama has headlined events to raise millions of dollars in recent days for his party. The push comes as looming midterm congressional elections in November will determine whether his party can maintain its grip on power in the House and the Senate.

In Austin, Obama will raise money for the Democratic National Committee; in

AM News: Huberman Unveils Zero Reserve Budget - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

AM News: Huberman Unveils Zero Reserve Budget

by Alexander Russo

CPS to use reserve funds to balance budget Tribune: Schools chief Ron Huberman said that completely drawing down the $190 million reserve to balance the budget is necessary because the state still owes the... A balancing act for Chicago Public Schools Sun Times: With no concessions from teachers due a 4 percent pay raise, schools CEO Ron Huberman planned to unveil a $6.4 billion budget today that will leave zero ... Teachers wondering about their careers Tribune: Of the 1,100 education majors from ISU's Class of 2010, about 80 percent are still hoping for an offer, according to the career office. And even traditionally hard-to-fill specialties -- math, science and special education -- in impoverished communities are turning away applicants. Nontraditional teaching jobs awash in applicants Tribune: The great teaching drought of 2010 has produced some winners -- mostly those trying to hire for nontraditional educator jobs. IL farmers can cash in on millions as schools and restaurants demand local produce Tribune: Farms cover 75 percent of Illinois land, yet wholesale buyers report a shortage of the fresh, local food they can purchase. Demand is high and farmers can focus on schools, restaurants and other local customers to raise profits, a new study shows.

Day One For Track E

by Alexander Russo

rack E schools have their first day of school today -- I'm wondering how it's going (how it went). Anyone from a Track E school, parent or teacher or close observer, feel free to fill us in. I'll add news reports as they come.

CMSA: Pregnant Charter Teacher Fired For Organizing

by Alexander Russo

Remember how in June we found out that the teachers at CMSA (Chicago Math and Science Academy) charter school had organized? Well the latest on that front is that the school allegedly fired one of the leaders of the organizing effort. But that's not all, according to this IFT press release:

"The teacher, Rhonda Hartwell [no, that's not her pictured], was eight months pregnant at the time of her firing and was forced to move up her scheduled delivery to ensure it occurred before her health insurance was cut off.

This Week In Education: Media: Waiting For Justin Beiber

Media: Waiting For Justin Beiber

by Alexander Russo

Hey, we all gotta pay the rent. Word is that Davis Guggenheim's next (current) project is a biopic of teen hearthrob Justin Beiber scheduled to come out for Valentine's Day 2011 (TheWrap.com via Linda Perlstein). Yes, that's him. Yes, a boy.
Meanhile, the buzz around Waiting For Superman may have already peaked among the

Books: Reading "The Corner"

by Alexander Russo

Pages 276-285 of The Corner contain some of the most powerful (and depressing) writing about urban education I've read in a long while. A gritty nonfiction book about the drug trade in Baltimore, the book is not much discussed in school reform circles. But a handful of teachers love and even teach it in class. One of those pointed me to these pages, in which Simon and Burns describe the disconnect between school life and real life, and the endless cycle of reforms and adjustments that come and go and come and go without much effect.

University of Nukes | California Progress Report

University of Nukes

by christine

By Norman Solomon
On my way to the Los Alamos National Laboratory a few years ago, I found it listed in a New Mexico phone book—under "University of California."
Since the early 1940s, UC has managed the nation's top laboratories for designing nuclear bombs. Today, California's public university system is still immersed in the nuclear weapons business.
Sixty-five years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, the University of California imprimatur is an air freshener for the stench of preparations for global annihilation. Nuclear war planners have been pleased to exploit UC's vast technical expertise and its image of high-minded academic purpose.
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Education Research Report: Problem-based curriculum boosts high school students' knowledge of economics

Problem-based curriculum boosts high school students' knowledge of economics

by Jonathan Kantrowitz

Ω

REL West conducted a randomized control trial in two Western states that examined the effects of a problem based high school curriculum on students’ proficiency in economics. The study, Effects of Problem Based Economics on High School Economics Instruction, was released by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. It found a significant positive impact for students of teachers who received receive professional development and support in Problem Based Economics compared with their peers.

• The students whose teachers used the problem based curriculum in their classrooms scored significantly

State officials trim, but not gut, high school testing program | GothamSchools

State officials trim, but not gut, high school testing program

by Philissa Cramer

One thing is sure, even in an uncertain economy: Students will still take tests.
New York State made that official last week when it finalized some cost-cutting changes to the state’s high school testing program but left most exams and test dates intact.
Back in March, state officials issued a dramatic proposal to gut the high school testing program. The state could save $13.7 million annually, they said, by eliminating exams in all subjects except math, reading, and science; ending January and August test dates used to help students graduate; and no longer translating test materials into foreign languages.
After the state budget provided for part of the Education Department’s funding request, officials ultimately

Sunday NYT Celebrates a -ubious New Policy :: Frederick M. Hess

Sunday NYT Celebrates a -ubious New Policy In its inimitable style, the New York Times yesterday featured a page one ed story celebrating an aimless new district policy and the superintendent responsible. In a story headlined "Little as They Try, Students Can't Get a D Here," NYT's Winnie Hu...

i3 Winners: Long on Talent, Execution, & "Best Practices"--Not Transformation I see I wasn't the only observer disappointed by how the administration's overhyped i3 program played out. When winners were leaked Wednesday, savvy analysts including Alexander Russo and Mike Petrilli remarked upon what they saw as the disappointing ...

Two Cheers for Professor Pallas This morning, Columbia University professor Aaron Pallas sounded a responsible (if hasty) retreat from last week's attack on DCPS. After writing last week that DCPS had seemingly used "preposterous" assumptions to adopt an "idiotic" teacher ...

A Personal Note From Politics K-12 - Politics K-12 - Education Week

A Personal Note From Politics K-12

by Michele McNeil

Sometime in the three weeks or so, the Michele half of this Politics K-12 duo will be taking a hiatus from blogging, and from Education Week.
I'm expecting my first child at the end of August, and the real question is which will come first: baby, or Race to the Top Round 2 winners?
This is really up in the air because last time, in Round 1, the winners were announced two weeks after the

Notes from the news, Aug. 9 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, Aug. 9

by Erika Owens

Phila. schools outline reforms after warning on grants The Inquirer
A federal audit found poor documentation for $140 million in federal grant money, which prompted the District to make changes in grants administration such as contracting with an outside firm to write a best practices manual.
Editorial: Public has a right to know The Inquirer
The SRC should also release Superintendent's evaluation for her $65,000 bonus, not just the criteria, because it is in the public interest.
Elmer Smith: Dad has spent 6 years pushing for after-school programs for autistic children Daily News
Parent Eric Smith founded Project Elijah Empowering Autism, named after his son, to help other parents with autistic children find resources.
Back-to-School “Party” Builds Excitement for School KYW
The District's second annual block party brought out an estimated 50,000 people.
Community Education Partners closing four Phila. schools Philadelphia Business Journal
They are closing CEP Miller, ALA Bartram, ALA Hunting Park, and ALA South Philadelphia and expect the closings to be permanent.
When Teachers Are Slashed, the Children Pay Huffington Post
Post by AFT president Randi Weingarten, which mentions that libraries in Philly have been closed due to budget cuts.
In case you missed it: What's really best for the students? The Notebook blog
Rights groups challenge Obama education plan Philadelphia Tribune
Advocates to Congress: Don't forget school lunch money WHYY
Education Secretary Duncan Announces $115.3 Million for 124 Grants to Improve Teaching of American HistoryTTKN
Students Scared Tony Danza on Reality Teach Show NBC Bay Area
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
Click here to get Notes from the news in your inbox every day.
Notes from the news
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Education Week: ACLU Investigates Calif. School District Fees

ACLU Investigates Calif. School District Fees

By The Associated Press

The American Civil Liberties Union is examining school districts across California to determine if they are illegally charging students mandatory fees, an attorney said Friday.Los Angeles

The ACLU has received reports that cash-strapped districts are levying fees for everything from textbooks to cheerleading squads, which violates the state constitution's guarantee of a free, public education, said staff attorney David Sapp.

The issue is growing due to severe budget cutbacks in state education spending over th

Better Training on Early Years Urged for Principals

Programs that give principals expertise in pre-k-3 best practices are rare, one group says. (August 9, 2010)

G.I. Bill Helps Kids and Spouses Get Education

Members of the armed services can now transfer their education benefits to their children and spouses under changes to the G.I. Bill that recently went into effect. (August 9, 2010)

ACLU Investigates Calif. School District Fees

(August 9, 2010)

Education Is Key Difference in Iowa Gov. Race

(August 9, 2010)

More Than Two-Thirds of States Adopt Core Standards

(August 6, 2010) | Comments (4)

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Federal Policy

Dave Ebersbach at his home in Bowling Green, Ohio. Ebersbach, 43, is one of 14 math teachers in the Toledo, Ohio school district to receive notice a few weeks ago that their jobs were cut.

—J.D. Pooley/AP

Jobs Bill Brings Some Hope to Teachers

It’s been a bewildering summer for educators across the country as finances forced layoffs and unions and administrators sparred over ways to rehire, creating a "yo-yo effect."(August 6, 2010) | Comments (2)

Senate Passes Edujobs Bill

(August 5, 2010) | Comments (7)

The Daily Churn: Monday | EdNewsColorado

The Daily Churn: Monday

by Alan Gottlieb

Whats churning:

If you needed further proof that politics and education are inextricably intertwined, then the Denver Public Schools pension flap story should settle the matter. Smoldering embers were fanned into a brushfire Friday by a front-page New York Times story. The Washington Post weighed in Saturday, with a story about

This Week In Education: AM News: "Furloughing" Students - And PK Programs

AM News: "Furloughing" Students - And PK Programs

by Alexander Russo

Going to Extremes as the Downturn Wears On NYT: Plenty of businesses and governments furloughed workers this year, but Hawaii went further — it furloughed its schoolchildren... States cut preschool from budgets USA Today: States are cutting hundreds of millions from their prekindergarten budgets, undermining years of working to help young children... Reading and math scores fall sharply at two KIPP schools in District Washington Post: Reading and math scores fell sharply at two of the three high-performing D.C. charter middle schools operated by the Knowledge Is Power Program...Cheating Scandal Haunts Atlanta School Superintendent NYT: Even after an independent investigation recently found that the problem was much less widespread, critics have called for her resignation and attacked the investigation’s credibility... White supremacist running for Calif. school board AP: A white supremacist is running for a Southern California school board seat....

Queens Teacher: NY Daily News Promotes Breaking the Law

NY Daily News Promotes Breaking the Law

by Queens Teacher

Putting the kids first: Klein was right to use emergency powers in school fight
Editorials

Kids first. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Kudos to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein for using emergency powers to protect 100 students at high-performing Girls Prep from the connivings of the teachers union and state Legislature.

Yes, kudos to Klein for ramming yet another charter down our throats to help his rich buddies make a profit.

When Albany reauthorized mayoral school control last August, lawmakers attempted to limit the chancellor's discretion to close failing schools - actions that always discomfit teachers. The Legislature required educrats to detail every possible way, however remotely theoretical, that any child anywhere might be affected.

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Monday, August 9, 2010