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Monday, April 16, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-16 #edreform #soschat


solidaridad: United Adult Students Meeting, April 21, 2012

solidaridad: United Adult Students Meeting, April 21, 2012: United Adult Students Meeting, April 21, 201220120421 United Adult Students MeetingPosted byRobert D. Skeels * rdsatheneat01:23Labels:adult education,budget cuts,LAUSD,neoliberalism,resistance,social justice,UAS¡No La Quieren Mónica García!byRobert D. Skeels * rdsathene"When she needed us, to get to the position she's in, we were there for her. Now that we need her, she isn't helping us. We don't want Monica Garcia to keep her position...She is affecting the needs of our communities, our children and our families." ... more »

solidaridad: ¡No La Quieren Mónica García!

solidaridad: ¡No La Quieren Mónica García!: ¡No La Quieren Mónica García!byRobert D. Skeels * rdsathene"When she needed us, to get to the position she's in, we were there for her. Now that we need her, she isn't helping us. We don't want Monica Garcia to keep her position...She is affecting the needs of our communities, our children and our families." — Enoe Terra (Parent andAdult Student)PopoutLearn More and Get Involvedhttp://RecallMonicaGarcia.comtwitterfacebookUnited Adult Students Meeting, April 21, 2012byRobert D. Skeels * rdsathene20120421 ... more »

ALEC Senators in the State of Washington and a Response from Senator Devlin | Seattle Education

ALEC Senators in the State of Washington and a Response from Senator Devlin | Seattle Education: ALEC Senators in the State of Washington and a Response from Senator Devlinbyseattleducation2011So far Mars, Inc., the Arizona Public Service Company (Arizona’s largest electric utility), Kraft, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Intuit, and(almost) the Gates Foundationhave parted ways withALEC.Even a legislator in Missouri publicly cut ties with ALEC. To follow is his statement:The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is not the innocuous, bipartisan organization it ... more »

Sacramento-area schools review racial imbalance of student suspensions - Education - The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento-area schools review racial imbalance of student suspensions - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento-area schools review racial imbalance of student suspensionsShareByDiana Lambertand Phillip Reesedlambert@sacbee.comPublished: Monday, Apr. 16, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1ALast Modified: Monday, Apr. 16, 2012 - 12:23 amBlack students attending Folsom Cordova Unified schools were nearly five times as likely to be suspended as white students in the 2009-10 school year.Sacramento City Unified, Natomas Unified, Twin Rivers Unified and Elk Grove Unified all suspended black ... more »

NYC Educator: That Wacky Funster from New Jersey

NYC Educator: That Wacky Funster from New Jersey: That Wacky Funster from New JerseybyNYC EducatorGovernor Chris Christie, though not a teacher by trade, has real class. You can tell, because he's brought hisALEC-inspiredwar on teachersstraight to the classroom. It's one thing to attack teachers. That's pretty common, and has become pretty much as standard as no. 2 pencils. However, His Governorship has taken things a step further:"There’s a lot of really great teachers in the state," said Christie. "But their ... more »

Beware the Education–Industrial Complex | LA Progressive

Beware the Education–Industrial Complex | LA Progressive: Beware the Education–Industrial ComplexByAlan SingerSometimes we can learn lessons from history–if we are paying attention.In January 1961, as he completed his second and final term as President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhowergave a farewell address to the nation. It was a remarkable and prescient speech in many ways, especially given that Eisenhower was a West Point graduate, a retired five-star general, a military hero in command of all Allied troops in Western ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our no-bid, win-win, Rahmadier

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our no-bid, win-win, Rahmadier: Our no-bid, win-win, RahmadierbyMike KlonskyMarc Boucher, from left, Bombardier vice president of operations; CTA President Forrest Claypool; and Mayor Rahm Emanuel check out a new rail car in November. The cars were later taken out of service because of defects.(Heather Charles, Chicago Tribune/November8, 2011)When I was in D.C., an old Chicago friend asked me whatRahm Emanuelwas up to back in Chi-Town. It took

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. $300 million no-bid contracts. « Fred Klonsky

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. $300 million no-bid contracts. « Fred Klonsky: Life in Rahm’s Chicago. $300 million no-bid contracts.byFred KlonskyRahm takes us for a ride.A hint on what Chicago’s mayor has in mind with his grand infrastructure rebuilding scheme can be found today in aTribune story.Shortly after taking office Rahm had secret talks with a company called Bombardier Transportation.The talks over the public-private partnership continued for 10 months, “in

Rick Scott and Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Attempt to Promote Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

Rick Scott and Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Attempt to Promote Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Rick Scott and Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Attempt to Promote Charter SchoolsbyBob SikesJanuary’s news that school districtswould be ranked by FCAT datamakes sense now doesn’t it? Ricks Scott and Gerard Robinson knew they could skew the numbers to make their charter schools look good.From Robinson oflast week’srelease of data which purports to demonstrate thesuperiority of charter schools:“This report clearly demonstrates that charter schools are a viable ... more »

HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED... ONCE YOU'VE BEEN MARKED FOR ELIMINATION - Perdaily.com

HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED... ONCE YOU'VE BEEN MARKED FOR ELIMINATION by Mark Hemphill (¿Cómo se juega el juego ... Vez que haya sido marcados para la eliminación por Mark Hemphill) - Perdaily.com: HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED... ONCE YOU'VE BEEN MARKED FOR ELIMINATION by Mark Hemphill (¿Cómo se juega el juego ... Vez que haya sido marcados para la eliminación por Mark Hemphill)byLeonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of ... more »

New York City’s Tutoring Industry Grows With Competition for Admissions - NYTimes.com

New York City’s Tutoring Industry Grows With Competition for Admissions - NYTimes.com: Fight for Middle School Spots Enriches Tutoring FirmsChang W. Lee/The New York TimesLeft to right, Chloe Luk, Nicholas Lui, the teacher Paola Higuera and Harry Swanson at a prep course at Bright Kids NYC.By ANNA M. PHILLIPSPublished: April 15, 2012RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINSIGN IN TO E-MAILPRINTREPRINTSSHAREAs their parents sat anxiously in a waiting room, five children were sharpening their test-taking skills in a tutoring center in TriBeCa, underlining words that might ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-15 #soschat #EDReform

Exposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All Connected - Nancy Scola - Politics - The AtlanticBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoExposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All Connected - Nancy Scola - Politics - The Atlantic: Exposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All ConnectedAPR 14 2012, 8:00 AM ET110A shadowy organization uses corporate contributions to sell prepackaged conservative bills -- such as Florida's Stand Your Ground statute -- to legislatures across the country.ReutersThe recent ... more »

Student “Learning Styles” Theory Is Bunk (Daniel Willingham) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Student “Learning Styles” Theory Is Bunk (Daniel Willingham) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Student “Learning Styles” Theory Is Bunk (Daniel Willingham)bylarrycubanU-Va. cognitive scientistDaniel Willingham, author of “Why Don’t Students Like School?.” This post appeared September 14, 2009.Since the publication of HowardGardner‘Frames of Mindin the early 1980s in which he pointed out the many ways that children and adults learn, popularization of “multiple intelligences” in the early 1990s has fused multiple intelligences with teaching to different “learning ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Going Green in BEX IV

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Going Green in BEX IV: Going Green in BEX IVbyMelissa WestbrookThe needs for BEX IV are considerable and complex. But we have to hope that, moving forward, the district does give a thought and an ear to more green building and sustainable buildings. If we are spending so much on buildings, there should be thought to how to build more cheaply and create buildings that will have lower operating costs.This is going on in districts in ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Being Clear on the Real Issues around the Lowell Investigation

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Being Clear on the Real Issues around the Lowell Investigation: Being Clear on the Real Issues around the Lowell InvestigationbyMelissa WestbrookI just wanted to make a couple of things clear on this issue and then move on. I'm going to rely on the words from the Times'articleof March 23, 2012 by Brian Rosenthal to make several points abundantly clear.It is a very dangerous thing to have people in authority who have legal responsibilities then look away ... more »

Okay Michelle Rhee – So you are the CEO of StudentsFirst BUT a lobbyist for GNEPSA?

Wait, What?: Okay Michelle Rhee – So you are the CEO of StudentsFirst BUT a lobbyist for GNEPSA?jonpeltoEducation,Ethics,Malloy,Michelle Rhee,StudentsFirstEducation Reform,Malloy,Michelle Rhee,StudentsFirst7 CommentsPerhaps in Michelle Rhee’s world our Connecticut laws are “more of what you call guidelines than actual rules.”Wait, What? readers now know that despite the plethora of Connecticut laws requiring honest and public disclosure when it comes to lobbying state officials, Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization failed to file any of the appropriate Connecticut forms or rep... more »

Sneaky Michelle Rhee What’s a GNESPA? More Bait N Switch - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News

What’s a GNESPA? - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News: Jonathan KantrowitzPolitical activist, health nutAbout Jonathan KantrowitzWhat’s a GNESPA?April 15, 2012 at 4:17 pm byJonathan KantrowitzAs Jon Pelto details,here,it is a registered lobbyist in Connecticut.But if it legally exists at all, it is clearly a cover front for Michelle Rhee’s StudentFirst.In fact if you go to GNESPA’s website:www.GNEPSA.orgthe fiction is so transparent that you find yourself transported immediately to StudentFirst’s Connecticut website.and on that website you will find the following TV ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Teacher supports parents opting their children out of standardized testing and wishes she could as well!

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Teacher supports parents opting their children out of standardized testing and wishes she could as well!: NYC Teacher supports parents opting their children out of standardized testing and wishes she could as well!byLeonie HaimsonAswehavespokenoutagainst high-stakes testing this year,after our family was first directly affected by it through our third-grade son,we have had the wonderful experience of connecting with like-minded parents inNew York and across the country who are also determined to put education backinto the ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 4-15 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Schools Matter: Read and Endorse the Declaration of Professional Conscience for TeachersBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-10 minutes agoSchools Matter: Read and Endorse the Declaration of Professional Conscience for Teachers: Read and Endorse the Declaration of Professional Conscience for TeachersbyJim HornSign the Declaration of Professional Conscience for Teachers:In 1990 Ken Goodman published “A Declaration of Professional Conscience for Teachers” as a front piece of the bookThe Whole Language Catalog, edited with Yetta Goodman and Lois Bridges. Two decades later ... more »

In-depth analysis of federal school grant program shows mix of progress, problems - The Denver Post

In-depth analysis of federal school grant program shows mix of progress, problems - The Denver Post: In-depth analysis of federal school grant program shows mix of progress, problemsPOSTED: 04/15/2012 01:02:00 AM MDTUPDATED: 04/15/2012 04:20:39 AM MDTEducation WeekAfter two years, the federal program providing billions of dollars to help states and districts close or remake some of their worst-performing schools remains an ambitious work in progress, with roughly 1,200 turnaround efforts under way but still no verdict on its effectiveness.The School ... more »

Daily Kos: A Veteran’s Death, the Nation’s Shame

Daily Kos: A Veteran’s Death, the Nation’s Shame: A Veteran’s Death, the Nation’s Shamebyrss@dailykos.com (teacherken)HERE’S a window into a tragedy within the American military: For every soldier killed on the battlefield this year, about 25 veterans are dying by their own hands.That is the opening paragraph of apowerful and important columnin this morning'sNew York Timesby Nicholas Kristof. I am actually surprised that it was not featured in the Pundit Roundup.It is a critical issue: An American soldier dies every day ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee

Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle RheebyDukeLast Friday, Michelle Rhee was onBrian Lehrer's radio show. The segment, unsurprisingly, is a textbook example of the incoherence of the corporate reform movement.I'll have more to say about the rest of the interview later, but for now, I want to focus in on a remarkable passage, starting at 18:19.I have transcribed it in its entirety because I think it needs to go on Rhee's permanent record ... more »

Federal teacher evaluation requirement has wide impact | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Federal teacher evaluation requirement has wide impact | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: Federal teacher evaluation requirement has wide impactElliott Elementary in Lincoln, Ne., struck off on its own last year when it became the only school in the city to win money through the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program. Winning wasn’t something to be proud of, though: It meant the school qualified as one of the worst in the nation. About a third of fifth-graders at Elliott were ... more »

Exposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All Connected - Nancy Scola - Politics - The Atlantic

Exposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All Connected - Nancy Scola - Politics - The Atlantic: Exposing ALEC: How Conservative-Backed State Laws Are All ConnectedAPR 14 2012, 8:00 AM ET110A shadowy organization uses corporate contributions to sell prepackaged conservative bills -- such as Florida's Stand Your Ground statute -- to legislatures across the country.ReutersThe recent blowing up of the Invisible Children viral video might have some of us thinking that Malcolm Gladwell was onto something with hisbiting critiqueof online ... more »

Millions in stimulus funding went to failed charter schools | Bucyrus Telegraph Forum | bucyrustelegraphforum.com

Millions in stimulus funding went to failed charter schools | Bucyrus Telegraph Forum | bucyrustelegraphforum.com:


Millions in stimulus funding went to failed charter schools




 DAYTON (AP) -- More than $4.8 million in federal stimulus money went to Ohio charter schools that have closed, and millions more went to charter schools accused of mishandling hundreds of thousands of dollars, a newspaper reported Sunday.
In Dayton, much of the more than $200,000 that went to two schools that were later shut down, New City School and Nu Bethel Center of Excellence, came a month after state audits found numerous problems, including debt, accounting errors, missing documentation for thousands of dollars in spending and unpaid employee taxes, according to the report by the Dayton Daily News.
The state ordered both schools shut down in 2010 for poor performance, part of the closure of 121 now defunct charter schools, including 21 that received stimulus funding. That list included the Academy of Dayton, which closed after receiving $59,909 in stimulus funds, the paper said.
Four Richard Allen Academy schools in Dayton, which are still open, 

Shanker Blog » Becoming A 21st Century Learner

Shanker Blog » Becoming A 21st Century Learner:


Becoming A 21st Century Learner

Think about something you have always wanted to learn or accomplish but never did, such as a speaking a foreign language or learning how to play an instrument. Now think about what stopped you. There’s probably a variety of factors but chances are those factors have little to do with technology.
Electronic devices are becoming cheaper, easier to use, and more intuitive. Much of the world’s knowledge is literally at our fingertips, accessible from any networked gadget. Yet, sustained learning does not always follow. It is often noted that developing digital skills/literacy is fundamental to 21st century learning but, is that all that’s missing? I suspect not. In this post I take a look at university courses available to anyone with an internet connection (a.k.a. massive open on-line courses or MOOCs) and ask: What attributes or skills make some people (but not others) better equipped to take advantage of this and similar educational opportunities brought about by advances in technology?
In the last few months, Stanford University’s version of MOOCs have attracted considerable attention (also hereand here), leading some to question the U.S. higher education model as we know it – and even envision its

FCMAT » California Education Headlines

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:


Layoff uncertainties roil San Juan Unified

More than 200 San Juan Unified School District teachers, counselors and other certificated employees on Friday snacked, read books, drank coffee, and checked smartphones and iPads while they attended a hearing on their potential layoffs.

Expert sees conflict in consultant's ties to Sacramento City superintendent

An ethics expert says Sacramento City Unified School District consultant Don Katzir's involvement in the evaluation of Superintendent Jonathan Raymond is a conflict of interest.

Program helps boost Monterey Peninsula USD scores

About 15 students strut into Griselle Rose's English class to the sound of Vivaldi's "Double Concerto in A Minor." After the bell rings, and Seaside High School's announcements are heard over the intercom, Rose points to the class objectives for the 10th-graders to read out loud.

Sacramento-area schools review racial imbalance of student suspensions

Across the state, nearly one of every five African American students and one in 14 Latino students were suspended at least once in 2009-10, compared with one in 17 white students and one in 33 Asian American students, according to a report released last week from the Center for Civil Rights Remedies at UCLA.

Hundreds of substitute teachers needed next week

The San Diego Unified School District is scrambling to find hundreds of substitutes to cover for teachers who are scheduled to attend three-day hearings next week to contest their pink slips.

Galt elementary school district takes new salary cuts to save schools

An additional union group took cuts and Galt Joint Union Elementary School District's top brass volunteered for extended furlough days and salary freezes to stave off school closures for at least another year.

Cafeteria workers, Lodi Unified School District at odds over breaks

After cafeteria workers at several school sites reported being denied their paid break time, the classified union has filed a grievance against Lodi Unified School District.

Upland Unified School District board reviewing transportation cuts

The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees are reviewing possible changes to the transportation system in order to meet needed budget cuts for the next fiscal year.

Los Gatos board votes suddenly to close school

The Los Gatos School District cited unexpectedly stricter state demands for seismic safety when it voted suddenly Tuesday to close Lexington School and send its students from the Santa Cruz Mountains to a school in downtown Los Gatos.

At an urban L.A. school, nature grows — and test scores too

At Leo Politi Elementary, workers ripped out concrete and planted native flora. The plants attracted insects, which attracted birds, which attracted students, who, fascinated by the nature unfolding before them, learned so much that their science test scores rose sixfold.

When time allows, 1992 riots are poignant lesson in L.A. schools

L.A.-area high school students find lessons about the 1992 riots gripping and galvanizing — when their teachers have time to turn the focus away from standardized tests.

Ed Prof challenges professional development conventions

Ivan Cheng, who spent more than two decades teaching math in Los Angeles schools, is one of a growing number of researchers who believe conventional methods for making teachers better doesn’t necessarily help their students.

Fensterwald: Dilemma over English learners

English language learners currently get about 8 percent per student in extra funding, says the Legislative Analyst’s Office. That amount would more than quadruple in six years, to 37 percent, if the Legislature adopts Gov. Brown’s weighted student formula, phasing in substantially more money for every poor student and each English learner. That potential bonanza has advocates for English learners ecstatic and anxious.
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In Case You Missed It: City won’t have State support for “turnarounds” by PEP vote; IBO says more high-needs students mean lower school ratings « EdVox

In Case You Missed It: City won’t have State support for “turnarounds” by PEP vote; IBO says more high-needs students mean lower school ratings « EdVox:


In Case You Missed It: City won’t have State support for “turnarounds” by PEP vote; IBO says more high-needs students mean lower school ratings

Here on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it… Here is a recap of the latest stories in NYC education news, starting with the oldest:
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