Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-22 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

The Alarming Silence on the Remediation Levels Needed by Florida College Freshmen | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

The Alarming Silence on the Remediation Levels Needed by Florida College Freshmen | Scathing Purple Musings:The Alarming Silence on the Remediation Levels Needed by Florida College Freshmenby Bob SikesOcala Star-Banner editorial page editor, Brad Rogers correctly points out that the number of Florida freshmen who need some sort of remediation is the most crucial – and disturbing piece of education data that no one is talking about:Over half of the incoming freshman at CF during the 2009-10 school year — ... more »

Weekly Update, January 20, 2012: Rent-a-preachers, teachers and a school that works | Seattle Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

Weekly Update, January 20, 2012: Rent-a-preachers, teachers and a school that works | Seattle Education:Weekly Update, January 20, 2012: Rent-a-preachers, teachers and a school that worksby seattleducation2011A lot has been gong on in the last two weeks nationally and I am now just getting caught up.There is a lot going on in the state of Washington with Stand for Children, et al, trying to do an end run around the people by going directly to the state legislators to attempt ... more »

Blue Jersey:: Christie Caught In a Whopper

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

Blue Jersey:: Christie Caught In a Whopper:Christie Caught In a Whopperby: Jersey JazzmanSun Jan 22, 2012 at 09:55:30 AM ESTI'm sure you're all shocked to hear this, but a video just released this morning pretty much proves that Chris Christie lied at his town hall in Voorhees last week:That's right: Amir Khan - charter school founder, anti-marriage equity activist, and terrible speller - has been on the dais for TWO Christie "town halls." Khan says he's met with Christie "frequently."But ...more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 1-22 #ows #edreform #edchat

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

Kansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’ - KansasCity.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-5 hours agoKansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’ - KansasCity.com:Kansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’Interim superintendent points to improvements and rails against “campaign political rhetoric.”BY JOE ROBERTSON AND LYNN HORSLEYThe Kansas City StarFallout from a meeting between Mayor Sly James and the U.S. education secretary brought out the ire in Kansas City Interim Superintendent Steve ... more »

How To Cure The Autism Epidemic? Make Believe It Doesn’t Exist. | Addicting Info

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How To Cure The Autism Epidemic? Make Believe It Doesn’t Exist. | Addicting Info:How To Cure The Autism Epidemic? Make Believe It Doesn’t Exist.January 20, 2012By Justin "Filthy Liberal Scum" RosarioIn their infinite wisdom, the American Psychiatric Association is, after almost two decades, updating the medical definition of autism and by “updating” I mean “narrowing.” It almost appears that, in a misguided attempt to deal with the increasing rate at which autism is being diagnosised, they have decided to exclude ... more »

Schools Matter: Hawaii's Teachers Take a Stand: Take Your RTTT Bribe and Shove It

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

Schools Matter: Hawaii's Teachers Take a Stand: Take Your RTTT Bribe and Shove It:Hawaii's Teachers Take a Stand: Take Your RTTT Bribe and Shove Itby Jim HornFrom Valerie Strauss at WaPo:Public school teachers in Hawaii have rejected a contract that called for a move to a performance-based evaluation and compensation system, as required by the Race to the Top grant that the state won from the Obama administration.The rejection comes shortly after Hawaii was warned by the U.S. Education Department ... more »

Who Should Have Access to Student Records? - US News and World Report

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 36 minutes ago

Who Should Have Access to Student Records? - US News and World Report:Who Should Have Access to Student Records?Education data can be useful, but privacy experts are concerned about data misuse.By JASON KOEBLERJanuary 19, 2012 RSS Feed PrintSince “No Child Left Behind” was passed 10 years ago, states have been required to ramp up the amount of data they collect about individual students, teachers, and schools. Personal information, including test scores, economic status, grades, and even disciplinary problems and student ... more »

Charter schools: Where's the beef? | The Asbury Park Press NJ | APP.com

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Charter schools: Where's the beef? | The Asbury Park Press NJ | APP.com:Charter schools: Where's the beef?Just how badly does the public education system in New Jersey need to be fixed? And what is the best way to go about fixing what is broken?Over the past two years, we have heard from Gov. Chris Christie and his administration that our schools, and our teachers, are failing our children. He has hammered away at the need for a series of reforms, ... more »

L.I. education guru hit by Gov. Cuomo defends her income - NY Daily News

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L.I. education guru hit by Gov. Cuomo defends her income - NY Daily News:L.I. education guru hit by Gov. Cuomo defends her income Ellen Cooper says she's done nothing wrong to earn $3.2 million per yearComments (3)BY KENNETH LOVETT, MARK MORALES AND JONATHAN LEMIRE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWSSaturday, January 21 2012, 7:44 PMStumbleUponTumblrRedditEmailCHRISTIE M FARRIELLA FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSEllen Cooper, whose taxpayer-funded business was criticized by Gov. Cuomo, can afford this stylish home in posh neighborhood of Syosset, ... more »

John Thrasher Wants to Ban Lawmakers from Holding Jobs at Post-Secondary Schools They Fund but Silent on Doing the Same for Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

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John Thrasher Wants to Ban Lawmakers from Holding Jobs at Post-Secondary Schools They Fund but Silent on Doing the Same for Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings:John Thrasher Wants to Ban Lawmakers from Holding Jobs at Post-Secondary Schools They Fund but Silent on Doing the Same for Charter Schoolsby Bob SikesFrom the Tampa Bay Times:TALLAHASSEE — Amid a clamor to overhaul a state university system lawmakers say isn’t cutting it, Sen. John Thrasher wants to ban lawmakers from holding jobs ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Evening Posts #ows #edreform 1-21

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 hours ago

Miles Davis Quintet - DianeBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-34 minutes agoHawaii teachers reject contract in ‘blow’ to Race to the Top - The Answer Sheet - The Washington PostBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-34 minutes agoHawaii teachers reject contract in ‘blow’ to Race to the Top - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Hawaii teachers reject contract in ‘blow’ to Race to the TopBy Valerie StraussPublic school teachers in Hawaii have rejected a contract that called for ... more »

Kansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’ - KansasCity.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Kansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’ - KansasCity.com:Kansas City schools chief: ‘We are NOT the worst district’Interim superintendent points to improvements and rails against “campaign political rhetoric.”BY JOE ROBERTSON AND LYNN HORSLEYThe Kansas City StarFallout from a meeting between Mayor Sly James and the U.S. education secretary brought out the ire in Kansas City Interim Superintendent Steve Green on Thursday.“I refuse to let the district be used as a platform for campaign political rhetoric,” Green said.The ... more »

Ravitch: ‘No Child Left Behind has been a disaster’ | Davis Enterprise

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Ravitch: ‘No Child Left Behind has been a disaster’ | Davis Enterprise:Ravitch: ‘No Child Left Behind has been a disaster’from Davis Enterprise by Jeff Hudson Diane Ravitch, education historian and prominent critic of federal education policy, made time for a wide-ranging 30-minute one-on-one interview with Enterprise reporter Jeff Hudson on Friday morning at Sacramento State University. Here are Ravitch’s thoughts and observations on education policy under President Obama, California Gov. Jerry Brown and other topics, presented in a question-and-answer format.Q: ... more »

It Can’t Happen Here… Really? | GoingPublic

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It Can’t Happen Here… Really? | GoingPublic:It Can’t Happen Here… Really?by Nancy LettsSinclair Lewis wrote the satirical political novel, It Can’t Happen Here, in 1935, when the United States and Western Europe had been in a depression for six years. Lewis asks us to consider what could happen if some ambitious politician used the 1936 presidential election to make himself dictator by promising quick, easy solutions to the depression – just as Hitler had done in Germany in 1933. Of ... more »

A Chance to Choose a New Direction for Education in California - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

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A Chance to Choose a New Direction for Education in California - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:A Chance to Choose a New Direction for Education in Californiaby Anthony CodyLast night I had the honor of speaking to an audience of several thousand teachers from the greater Sacramento area, at an event that featured State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, California Teachers Association vice president Eric Heins, Linda Darling Hammond and the woman who has emerged as the champion for teachers, ... more »

School Tech Connect: Crane Teacher Steven Godfrey and Student Mara Howard

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School Tech Connect: Crane Teacher Steven Godfrey and Student Mara Howard:Crane Teacher Steven Godfrey and Student Mara Howardby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)"You have misinformation about Crane."Crane Teacher Steven GodfreyA Crane teacher points out that some of fake protesters were holding up signs referencing the ISAT, a test that doesn't even apply to high school students here in Illinois."Since Crane is a neighborhood school, you think it's filled with neighborhood fools."Crane Student Mara HowardStudent Mara Howard spoke with such passion---

SRC can't afford to leave democracy behind | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

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SRC can't afford to leave democracy behind | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:SRC can't afford to leave democracy behindby Helen GymThursday’s move by the School Reform Commission to hire a Chief Recovery Officer who will be advised by an "outside team of experts" signals a potentially troubling path around both mission and process for the School District as it struggles to keep afloat amid fiscal chaos.District 1201 union President George Ricchezza, whose 2,700 members have all received layoff notices, said what’s ... more »

Field Trip! (And I Don’t Mean Virtual) « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

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Field Trip! (And I Don’t Mean Virtual) « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:Field Trip! (And I Don’t Mean Virtual)Posted January 21, 2012 by Oldschoolteach in Classroom Issues. Tagged: connecting field trips to lessons, educators and field trips, field trips, learning from field trips, pen pals, real life learning. 1 CommentMy former principal only allowed us to take only two field trips a year. (If you’ve been teaching long enough,you know how he came to that decision. Can anyone say ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Tesa Wilson on the charter invasion of Williamsburg: "We can no longer let the one percent dictate to the 99 percent"

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NYC Public School Parents: Tesa Wilson on the charter invasion of Williamsburg: "We can no longer let the one percent dictate to the 99 percent":Tesa Wilson on the charter invasion of Williamsburg: "We can no longer let the one percent dictate to the 99 percent"Tesa Wilson, public school parent and president of the Community Education Council in District 14, Williamsburg denounces the "separate but unequal" proposal to insert a Success Academy charter school in PS 19 in her community: "We ... more »

Mother Crusader: Four Strikes and Tikun Olam's Still Not Out?

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Mother Crusader: Four Strikes and Tikun Olam's Still Not Out?:Four Strikes and Tikun Olam's Still Not Out?by darciecimaThe New Jersey Department of Education, according to their timeline, was supposed to release the decisions on the latest round of charter applications on Tuesday, January 17th.Notice that charter applicants must submit their applications and addenda not just on particular days, but by a specific time. If they fail to meet these deadlines their applications are automatically disqualified. OK, let's put that aside. ... more »

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 'Another One Bites the Dust'

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS:

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged with, or are highly suspected of, tampering with admissions, grades, attendance and testing; misuse of funds and embezzlement; engaging in nepotism and conflicts of interest; engaging in complicated and shady real estate deals; and/or have been engaging in other questionable, unethical, borderline-legal, or illegal activities. This is also a record of charter school instability and other unsavory tidbits.

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CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

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CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

Be sure to check out two other Great blogs:

-THE BROAD REPORT (as in Eli) -THE PERIMETER PRIMATE

The New York Times Reports on the State of American Student Activism 2012 « Student Activism

The New York Times Reports on the State of American Student Activism 2012 « Student Activism:

The New York Times Reports on the State of American Student Activism 2012

by Angus Johnston

It’s been clear for a while — since well before the Occupy Wall Street movement arose this fall — that something new was happening on American campuses. The surge of activism that swept California in the fall of 2009 went national by the spring of 2010, and though there have been peaks and valleys since, a shift in mood, a sense of possibility, has been apparent throughout.

And of course that “something new” was itself part of what created OWS. Students occupied NYU and the New School in 2008, UC and CSU in 2009, and those actions, those occupations, formed a part of the history that the folks who occupied Zuccotti Park drew on last fall.

School Tech Connect: Crane's Linda Weseman and Maya Black

School Tech Connect: Crane's Linda Weseman and Maya Black:

Crane's Linda Weseman and Maya Black

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

"White people live in the area, but how many of their kids go to Crane?"

Linda Weseman and Maya Black

Crane teacher Linda Weseman encouraged student Maya Black speak from the heart about race and the new segregation school reform.



It isn't easy to speak truth to power, particularly when the powers that be have labeled you and your teachers a failure, so to honor Maya's work, I've gone ahead and transcribed her it here. I'm sure I've butchered it; please send

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Diane Ravitch visits Sacramento and Linda Darling-Hammond finds her voice…

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Diane Ravitch visits Sacramento and Linda Darling-Hammond finds her voice…:

Diane Ravitch visits Sacramento and Linda Darling-Hammond finds her voice…

by alicemercer

This post is more a personal reflection of Diane Ravitch’s recent speaking engagement in my town and my own personal analysis. For a more comprehensive look at that event, look here. I’ll be adding more posts at http://sacteachers.org/ over the next few days. These views are my own opinion, not the union’s, etc.

Diane Ravitch was everything you’d want her to be, but for my money, Linda Darling-Hammond has come to be much more than I expected. What do I mean by this? If you’ve been following the ed “reform” discussion online for a while, as I have, you know a lot of what Diane Ravitch is going to say because we all pass around her bon mots and tweets. She has a great delivery, and I am pleased and proud to have seen her in person, but Darling-Hammond was and has become a more surprising advocate for real education reform. While Ravitch has been

Behind the curtain at Diane Ravitch in Sacramento

by alicemercer

This post is more a personal behind the scenes reflection of Diane Ravitch’s recent speaking engagement in my town. For a more comprehensive look at that event, look here. I’ll be adding more posts at http://sacteachers.org/ over the next few days.

Part of mi vida loca lately has been taking over social media duties for my union local. Complicating my union work further, we are having our contract “opened” on wages and benefits, and there were threats to bring TFA to our district (now quashed, thankfully). Just to make life exciting, I’m doing this while teaching full-time, and I also suffered through stomach flu, and one of the worst sinus allergy attacks of my life since coming back from Winter Break.

The capstone to the last few weeks, heck to the last month or two, was a visit from education historian and commentator Diane Ravitch, in an event to which SCTA (my union local) was the main sponsor and organizer. Needless to say, when you are having the Queen of Education Twitterers visiting , you want a robust social

What Happens When Teacher Voices Depend on Foundations' Choices? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

What Happens When Teacher Voices Depend on Foundations' Choices? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

What Happens When Teacher Voices Depend on Foundations' Choices?

by Anthony Cody

Ten days ago, I shared a guest post authored by Kelly Flynn, Teachers Hold the Key. They Always Have. This morning it received the following comment:

While I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Flynn that teachers need to become more aware and involved in the reform strategies that are shaping our profession, I wonder what the best method for involving teachers should be. I belong to a group called the Denver New Millennium Initiative. We are a varied collection of voices of teachers who have 3-30 years of experience in K-12 schools in the Denver metro area. Though we have many differences in regards to our backgrounds and affiliations, we share a desire to be active members of the educational policy sphere. Where I think I am at odds with Ms. Flynn is that we couldn't do all that we have been able to do without the financial support of various foundations. Does this mean that we are less effective? I certainly hope not. We strive to be an organization that empowers teachers to have a voice in the policy sphere,

Schools Matter: The Thrill is Gone

Schools Matter: The Thrill is Gone:

The Thrill is Gone

by Jim Horn

From a look at today's Google Alert list, it would seem to indicate some pretty consistent concerns with the corporate welfare charter school movement, which shows signs of running out of steam everywhere, except on Wall Street. Charter schools lose their magic Gloucester County Times - NJ.com By Milton W. Hinton Jr. I find it interesting that some very influential people have come out in support of the expansion of charter schools in our state, including Gov. Chris Christie, Mayor Corey Booker of Newark, and