Tell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't) « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

Tell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't) « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Tell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't)

February 14th, 2012 by Klea Scharberg

You know it’s crucial to prepare students for long-term success rather than short-term achievement. Yet federal education policies like NCLB promote narrow, stopgap reforms instead of comprehensive support for our nation’s youth.

Tell Washington leaders to focus on what really matters—our children’s long-term futures—by creating a President’s Council on the Whole Child.

You know the whole child approach to education works; now tell the president how he can help, and ask your colleagues to do the same.

Thank you for your support and persistence!

(Please note: For best results, use Internet Explorer to view the site.)

Career Readiness Campaign - Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education)

Career Readiness Campaign - Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education):
http://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/cr/index.asp

Career Readiness Campaign

Through his California Career Readiness Initiative, SSPI Tom Torlakson has directed the California Department of Education to proceed with 17 key objectives to support, sustain and strengthen Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the State. His Initiative builds upon goals outlined in "A Blueprint For Great Schools."

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Objectives

1. Launch Career Readiness Initiative Campaign: On February 14, 2012, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tom Torlakson asked practitioners of Career and Technical Education (CTE) throughout California to join him in implementing the Initiative by promoting their local efforts, and advocating for program expansion, resources and support for CTE throughout the State.
2. Adopt and Promote New Statewide CTE Logo and Branding: As part of this campaign, the California Department of Education (CDE) has adopted and will promote new branding developed in partnership with the National Association of State Career Technical Education Directors Consortium: "CTE: Learning that Works for California."
3. Educate Stakeholders: Through this awareness campaign, SSPI Torlakson asks CTE practitioners and CDE staff to educate parents, students, teachers, business and civic leaders and educators on the benefits and successes of CTE programs, and to encourage them to support the further use and development of these various pathways to career readiness. 
4. Promote and Increase Use of CTE Programs as a Viable Pathway to Career Readiness: Through his campaign, SSPI Torlakson has asked staff and CTE practitioners to promote and expand use of the State’s 34,000 CTE courses so students have access to career pathways in high tech, computer science, health sciences, construction, the arts, agriculture and other various industries. In addition, CDE will focus on promoting and expanding use of the 11,000 CTE courses that meet the a-g criteria needed for students to enter our state colleges and Universities. 
5. Increase CTE Enrollment: CDE staff will develop strategies with educational partners to increase the number of students taking CTE courses in the State to help ensure more students are career ready. Currently, 1 million students are enrolled in such programs statewide.
6. Support and Expand Career Technical Student Organizations: SSPI Torlakson will work with legislative leaders and stakeholders to preserve funding and to expand these organizations to provide students with increased leadership development, and industry-based competitions to demonstrate their career readiness.
   
   
7. Increase Use of the University of California Curriculum Integration Institute: CDE will utilize the Senate Bill 70 funding to expand the successful institute process to develop CTE courses that also meet rigorous a-g criteria in designated academic content areas.
8. Implement Linked Learning Pilot Program: CDE will plan and initiate a Linked Learning pilot program to implement the provisions of the newly enacted Assembly Bill 790. The pilots will be designed as district led school re-design initiatives that integrate career-themed pathways into the organization and instructional practices of participating high schools.
9. Revise and disseminate CTE Standards aligned with the Common Core: CDE will work with stakeholders in developing the revised standards and present them to the State Board of Education for adoption. In addition, a series of presentations and professional development opportunities will be conducted to assist schools in incorporating the standards into the curriculum. 
10. Promote and Increase Use of Career Exploration: The California Career Resource Network will launch a new career and college Web portal for middle and high school students in the spring to help them explore and plan for post-high school options. CDE staff will promote and increase the use of other career exploration and planning tools within California schools.
11. Encourage Concurrent Enrollment: In collaboration with the higher education segments, CDE will identify successful concurrent enrollment practices among districts and colleges and share these approaches statewide.
12. Increase Industry Certification Programs and Work-Based Learning: CDE will develop strategies to expand industry certification programs and work-based learning opportunities.
13. Advocate for Continued State and Federal Funding for CTE Programs: SSPI Torlakson will work with legislative leaders to continue state funding for California Partnership Academies and other CTE programs through SB 70, and protect federal Perkins funding.
14. Support Local Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs): CDE staff will promote successful program practices, and collaborate on strategies to increase their role in improving all CTE programs within their service areas. ROCPs provide the majority of CTE courses in the state and are a major resource to school districts and California business and industry partners in building the career preparedness of students.
15. Advocate for Inclusion of CTE in Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): SSPI Torlakson will work with federal agencies and policy makers to include career academies and career pathway approaches into the reauthorization of ESEA.
16. Promote and Expand Articulation Agreements: CDE staff will highlight the more than 1,400 articulation agreements that exist between our high schools and surrounding middle schools and colleges, and work to expand them into other areas of the state that may benefit from such partnerships.
17. Increase Use of Social Media and the Internet to Promote Career Readiness: CDE staff has created new Facebook and Twitter accounts devoted specifically to communicate with CTE practitioners on campaign and program developments, to solicit feedback, and to promote use of CTE in the State’s schools. To follow us on the Web:
    
    CaliforniaCTE on Twitter (Outside Source) | California-CTE on Facebook (Outside Source)

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving"

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving":

Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving"

by Melissa Westbrook

Well look at this - a Broad superintendent going behind a School Board's back to hire more TFA (as they lay off more real teachers ). This is in Cobb County Georgia. Unbelievably, they are paying $8k per TFA per year (as opposed to SPS's $4k per year and Federal Way's $3k per year).

(Thanks to all who posted links or wrote to me.)

From the blog, The Art of Teaching Science:

It was revealed that Kumar met with three influential Cobb citizens, including Shan Cooper (general manager of Lockheed Martin Marietta), Barry Teague (executive developer Walton Communities), and Sam Olens (Georgia’s

Mother Crusader: A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices)

Mother Crusader: A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices):

A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices)

by darciecima

OK, so no confirmation hearing for Chris Cerf on Thursday. Like Jersey Jazzman, I am a little disappointed. I was getting geared up to testify about the glaring lack of transparency in the NJDOE under Acting Commissioner Cerf, but I guess it will have to wait. I'm sure it will just give me more ammunition if he ever does get a hearing because I'm not going away, and Cerf isn't going to start playing by the rules.


Jersey Jazzman already recapped how Cerf got tripped up, and how Sweeney ultimately pulled the plug:


State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3), West Deptford, shut down the Thursday hearing for Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf based largely on discomfort about Cerf’s declared residency status, a source said.


In the same article that revealed Cerf had "two homes," Christie was playing hard ball:

Republicans are retreating on No Child, too | The Education Front Blog | dallasnews.com

Republicans are retreating on No Child, too | The Education Front Blog | dallasnews.com:

Republicans are retreating on No Child, too

by William McKenzie/ Editorial Columnist

In my column today about President Obama's move away from No Child Left Behind, I raised some concerns about what could happen with his revisions. (I also pointed out several positives likely to come from his plan.)

But let me be clear; The president isn't the only one walking away from No Child. Congressional Republicans also are in retreat.

As an example, some Republicans on Capitol Hill have proposed doing away with requiring schools to show "adequately yearly progress." AYP, as it is known, is No Child's way of assessing whether schools are making sufficient progress on their state achievement exams. If they are, then fine. If not, and schools consistently fail to meet their AYP goals, a series of corrective measures are to take place.

But in a release put out yesterday by the GOP-led Education and Workforce Committee in the House, Republicans called for ending federal requirements for AYP and letting states determine whether their schools are progressing.

Of course, this has a common sense ring to it. Let states be laboratories and figure things out.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chain

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chain:

Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chain

by Mike Klonsky

Julie Woestehoff, of Parents United for Responsible Education, speaks at a rally and march to call for an end to what they call “appalling” disciplinary policies at some schools. | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

The mayor's favorite charter school franchise was the target of a parent and student protest yesterday. An FOIA report obtained by PURE, the Advancement Project civil rights group and a student group called VOYCE revealed that the operators of Noble Street Charter Network have pocketed nearly $400,000 by fining mostly low-income parents for their children's minor rules infractions like not sitting up straight to carrying “flaming hot”

Teachers Don't Suck !: Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy Titles

Teachers Don't Suck !: Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy Titles:

Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy Titles

I got to thinking about all the educational schemes that are constantly cooked up in Trenton, Washington and throughout the U.S. What really impresses me is not the results they yield but the grandiose sounding names that are dreamt up for these fruitless projects. The ability to continuously conjure up such pretentious titles (and of course, the catchy sounding acronyms) is astonishing especially in light of their constant failure to help improve the education of our children.
The Renaissance Act
The Urban Hope Act
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
The Race to the Top
The Quality Education Act (QEA)
Thorough and Efficient (T&E)
High School Proficiency (HSPT)
(HSPT9)
(HSTP11)
Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA)
Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) Comprehensive Education Improvement and Financing Act (CEIFA)
The School Funding Reform Act
The New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK)
NJ ASK 3
NJ ASK4.

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. St. Valentine’s Day edition. « Fred Klonsky

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. St. Valentine’s Day edition. « Fred Klonsky:

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. St. Valentine’s Day edition.

by Fred Klonsky

Charter school students protest what Rahm calls “special sauce” fines. Photo: PURE.

Noble Street Charter schools are Rahm Emanuel’s favorites. He includes them on his lists of Chicago’s best schools, while always leaving high performing public schools off his list.

But now it has come to light that a revenue source for Rahm’s favorite charter schools are punitive fines for violating school rules.

PURE reports:

Noble’s discipline system charges students $5 for minor behavior such as

U.S. Secretary of Education to Help Launch New Initiative to Transform Teaching Profession | #askarne

U.S. Secretary of Education to Help Launch New Initiative to Transform Teaching Profession | U.S. Department of Education:

U.S. Secretary of Education to Help Launch New Initiative to Transform Teaching Profession

Contact:

Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

Event Date 1: February 15, 2012 03:30 pm - 04:30 pm

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will hold a town hall meeting with teachers on Wednesday, Feb., 15 at the Department to launch a new initiative led by active classroom teachers to help inform the Obama Administration’s proposal and the broader effort to elevate and strengthen the teaching profession. Teachers, representatives of teaching associations, and other teacher-led reform groups will participate in the event.

The Obama Administration’s 2013 proposed budget includes a new $5 billion competitive program to challenge states and districts to work with teachers, unions, colleges of education and other stakeholders to comprehensively reform the field of teaching. The proposal touches on every phase of teaching from training and tenure to compensation and career opportunities.

The event will be streamed live at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/education-department.

Event 1

Who :	U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan
What :	Town Hall to announce the launch of a teacher-focused initiative
When :	3:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012
Where :	US. Department of Education (Barnard Auditorium) 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C.

Frerichs enters City Council election race | Davis Enterprise

Frerichs enters City Council election race | Davis Enterprise:

Frerichs enters City Council election race

by Tom Sakash

A fifth candidate for the 2012 City Council election has emerged, just as the filing period to run for council opened on Monday.

Lucas Frerichs, 32, chairman of the city’s Planning Commission, has decided to seek one of the three seats on the council that will become vacant in June.

“I have served our community for more than 12 years in volunteer leadership capacities,” Frerichs said in a news release announcing his candidacy. “Now is the time for new vision, experience and direction for the city of Davis.”

Frerichs joins four confirmed candidates including three incumbents — Sue Greenwald, 64; Stephen Souza, 56; and Dan Wolk, 34 — and one other newcomer, Brett Lee, 46.

In addition to serving on the Planning Commission since 2008, Frerichs also is a member of the Innovation Park Task Force, a commission created in 2010 to explore peripheral sites for future business park development to

Desperate Times in Cleveland and Ohio - Bridging Differences - Education Week

Desperate Times in Cleveland and Ohio - Bridging Differences - Education Week:

Desperate Times in Cleveland and Ohio

by Diane Ravitch

Dear Deborah,

I recently went to Cleveland to speak to the City Club, where civic leaders gather every Friday to hear from people in different fields. I wanted to talk with educators as well, so I spoke to the Cleveland Teachers Union on the evening of Feb. 2, and to district administrators on Feb. 3, before addressing the City Club.

On my drive from the airport with Jan Resseger, the minister for public education for the United Church of Christ, we passed through several neighborhoods. First, Shaker Heights, an elegant suburban enclave with outstanding schools. Then East Cleveland, a very different suburb, marked by blocks of boarded-up apartment houses and sealed homes, as well as empty lots where vacant houses had been demolished. These were once-functional neighborhoods that had died. So devastated was the landscape, I thought I might be in a Third World country. In central Cleveland, many houses had windows covered with plywood, and many retail stores were empty. To put

This Week In Education: Thompson: Putting Attendance Ahead Of Accountability

This Week In Education: Thompson: Putting Attendance Ahead Of Accountability:

Thompson: Putting Attendance Ahead Of Accountability

by john thompson

Larry Abramsom began his latest NPR report, "Detroit Schools' No. 1 Mission: Getting Kids to Class," with a truism: "You can't teach kids who don't come to class." Abramson adds that the average Detroit high school student missed at least 28 days of school last year. He concludes with the observation that, "sometimes educating parents about the importance of attendance seems more difficult than reaching students who are already in class." I would add that educating policy makers on the need to systemically address attendance seems to be just as difficult. A decade after NCLB, we are now just starting to tackle the logical first step in

Schools Matter: Top 10 Reasons For 1%ers to Support Charter Schools

Schools Matter: Top 10 Reasons For 1%ers to Support Charter Schools:

Top 10 Reasons For 1%ers to Support Charter Schools

by Jim Horn

Based on comparisons from the Stanford CREDO study of 2009, only 17 percent of charter schoolsnationwide are performing better than matched public schools. Of that 17 percent of higher-scoringcharters, the intensely-segregated urban charters use forms of totalcompliance lockdown teaching, corporate positivity, and cultural sterilizationthat white teachers in these schools would never allow to be used on their ownchildren.

There mustbe, then, more important social and economic reasons that some folks, who wouldotherwise not leave children behind in these hellholes ifthey were public schools, see charters schools as the only other choice forchildren in crumbling public schools whose poverty and lack of privilege arepredictably reflected in their very

Fostering Effective Teaching: No Easy Answers, A Forum | Seattle Education

Fostering Effective Teaching: No Easy Answers, A Forum | Seattle Education:

Fostering Effective Teaching: No Easy Answers, A Forum

by seattleducation2011

A forum about teachers and teaching that makes sense.

Join us for our second public forum on education, Fostering Effective Teaching: No Easy Answers:

The League of Women Voters

of Seattle-King County

March Forum

Fostering Effective Teaching: No Easy Answers

Thursday, March 1st, 7:30 – 9 pm

Seattle First Baptist Church, Downstairs

1111 Harvard Ave, Seattle, (corner of Harvard & Seneca on First Hill)

Free and open to the public

Education is fundamental to our democracy and teachers are fundamental to education. In the past few years, teachers have been the focus of efforts to improve and reform our educational system. Join us for a conversation with educators who are in the trenches adopting education reforms.

Speakers

Olga Addae, Seattle Education Association President

Eva Collins, Bellevue School District Interim Superintendent (invited)

Margit McGuire, PhD, Master in Teaching Program Director, Seattle University

Jennifer Wright, Learning & Technology Services Executive Director,

Mercer Island School District

• How are teachers trained in local teacher education programs?
• How do we develop, support and reward effective teaching?
• How do local district policies impact student learning?

Thank you to our co-promoters including: The City Club of Seattle and the Municipal League of King County.

Hechinger Report | In Memphis classrooms, the ghost of segregation lingers on

Hechinger Report | In Memphis classrooms, the ghost of segregation lingers on:

In Memphis classrooms, the ghost of segregation lingers on

by Sarah Garland

Samantha Crawford, an 18-year-old high-school senior, doesn’t like to use the word “ghetto” to describe her neighborhood in the center of Memphis, Tennessee, but she can’t think of a better one. In Binghampton, people drink and hang out. They are transient, moving from apartment to apartment and job to job. Many don’t work at all. Samantha speculates that few have finished college, or even high school.

In the past two years, though, Samantha has begun to look at her neighborhood as an inspiration. “It’s not about where I stay, or wherever I come from, but what I’m going to make of it,” she says.

Samantha once earned only Bs and Cs. Now, she makes straight As. She had dreamed of college, but wasn’t sure how she’d get there. Now, she’s feeling overwhelmed by the choices available to her. In the past few

NYC Educator: If I Had a Dollar...

NYC Educator: If I Had a Dollar...:

If I Had a Dollar...

by Miss Eyre

...for every time I had to tell a kid to take his/her (usually his) hood or hat off, I'd be retired already. I've already had to do it today, in fact.

Our school does not allow hoods or hats to be worn inside. We have a pretty relaxed dress code otherwise; this seems to be the battle that we've decided to fight. I don't particularly mind this rule; I see where the deans are coming from, for example, when they say it's a safety and security concern. While my school is pretty safe, we do have metal detectors, and I have to admit that they're there for a reason. So I get that.

On the other hand, it gets pretty frustrating, and I can say

Robbing public schools - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com

Robbing public schools - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com:

Robbing public schools

OUR OPINION: Drop charter school construction funding, focus on repairing dilapidated traditional schools

BY THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL

HERALDED@MIAMIHERALD.COM

As roofs sag in old school buildings, air conditioners break, electric panels blow and mold grows in classrooms where students are expected to learn, the maintenance costs keep adding up in this unwinnable game of catch-up for Florida public school districts facing billions of dollars in needed repairs.

So what does the Florida Legislature propose to do about it?

Nothing substantial. Forget about alleviating this mounting public need or fixing an antiquated funding mechanism that’s shortchanging public schools. Yet public education is the state’s “paramount duty,” as voters made clear when they passed a constitutional amendment in 1998 seeking “adequate” funding for education.

A long, drawn-out recession hasn’t helped, but neither have legislators nor Gov. Rick Scott come up with a plan to ensure adequate funding. Instead, the House and Senate are looking to free up $55 million in

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/13/2639981/robbing-public-schools.html#storylink=cpy