Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-18 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?byMelissa WestbrookThat's the question.I was talking with another education advocate recently and her take was that people (read: legislators) are tired of throwing money at public education and seeing the same results. And, that's why we need to support ed reform because legislators want to see something done differently in our schools.Okay, I can understand not wanting schools and districts doing the same ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Geaux Teacher!: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORESbynoreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) If you thought you had no control over school performance scores pre-reform, you can be sure that now that it's going to be nothing but a crap shoot!The BESE votes were barely counted and the meeting room emptied today before Superintendent White published his latest dictum that includes a re-design for calculating school performance scores. It's anybody's guess what effect this methodology ... more »

The Great California Shakeout - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

The Great California Shakeout - Letters (CA Dept of Education): Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:THE GREAT CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUTI encourage you to meet your school or district earthquake drill requirements by participating in this year’s Great California ShakeOut on October 18, 2012. The first step is to renew or register your school or district on the Great California ShakeOut Web site athttp://www.shakeout.org/.The ShakeOut is designed to provide a sense of urgency about earthquakes and to encourage individuals, ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: New Troll Policy

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: New Troll Policy: New Troll PolicybyDukeI have wasted far too much time with trolls lately. Maybe it's a sign of this blog's growth that I now have at least one full-time, dedicated troll stalking me here and at Blue Jersey who is quite conversant in reformy vocabulary.I don't have a problem with tough arguments against me. I will admit, for example, that a troll did catch me oncesaying something dumb. Good for her or him. Good for me, ... more »

Modern School: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All & Let God Sort It Out Later

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Modern School: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All Let God Sort It Out Later: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All Let God Sort It Out LaterbyMichael DunnOver 4,100 Detroit Public Schools teachers received layoff notices this month, according to theDetroit affiliate of NPR. They will each have to reapply next month in order to have a chance at a job in the district next year. Furthermore, new state law now prohibits Michigan school districts from rehiring or laying off teachers based solely on seniority. ... more »

tomhayden.com - Police, Student Protesters and Pepper Spray #UCDAVIS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - Police, Student Protesters and Pepper Spray: POLICE, STUDENT PROTESTERS AND PEPPER SPRAYTUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 AT 3:08PMTom Hayden testifies at a December 14, 2011 joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Education and the Assembly Committee on Higher Education at the state Capitol in Sacramento.In the most comprehensive official report on police tactics towards campus anti-tuition protests since the Occupy movement broke out last year, a University of California investigation concludes, “The pepper spraying ... more »

Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn Biddle | Edwize

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn Biddle | Edwize: Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn BiddlebyLeo CaseyThe powers that be at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate funded, right wing outfit that writes model legislation for state and local officials who apparently can’t write themselves, is feelingmighty sorryfor themselves these days.It seems that a confluence of different political ... more »

Meet ASCD President Debra Hill — Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Meet ASCD President Debra Hill — Whole Child Education: Meet ASCD President Debra HillbyASCD Whole Child BloggersPost submitted by whole child blogger Willona M. SloanIn her career as an educator, Debra Hill has worked at just about every level of education, from classroom teacher to superintendent to university professor.She discovered her calling during her sophomore year at Northwestern University, when she designed cultural activities for young children. "I spent a summer with 25 5- to 7-year-olds—and 1 assistant—and decided, 'This ... more »

Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community Group « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community Group « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community GroupbymillerlfEDUCATIONFORUMWomen Committed to an Informed CommunityMilwaukee, WisconsinApril 4, 2012City of Milwaukee Common Council c/o The Milwaukee CharterSchool Review Committee200 E. Wells StreetMilwaukee, WI 53202Forwarded to Email Addresses of Committee MembersRegarding: Charter School Application for Quest-Milwaukee, Inc.as submitted by Edgar T. Russell, Ex... more »

RheeFirst! » Parsed & Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

RheeFirst! » Parsed Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee: Parsed Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle RheebyadminJazzman parses shredsRhee’s incoherent radio interview.“Teachers and parents, know this: Michelle Rhee is “absolutely” wrong when she claims she champions children better than you do. She places primacy on the teacher, yet she supports policies, but her own admission, that will do nothing to get and keep great teachers in classrooms. Her entire agenda is designed to denigrate the profession of teaching and ... more »

Louisiana Educator: Ed Reform May Increase Segregation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Ed Reform May Increase Segregation: byMichael DeshotelsEd Reform May Increase SegregationOptions galore!That's how theBaton Rouge Advocate describes school optionswithin the next few years for Baton Rouge public school parents. Now in addition to expanded charters and vouchers, a new breakaway district is in the process of being approved by the legislature for another mostly white section of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. One would assume that expanded school choice, should increase the racial mixing of all ... more »

Florida Diversity and Leadership Conference

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Florida Diversity and Leadership Conference: RegisterSessionsSpeakersSponsorsSessionsRead moreDiversityFirst JobsLooking for that perfect candidate? Post your jobs on DiversityFIRSTjobs.com!Visit DiversityFIRSTJobs!Florida DiversityVisitFlorida Diversity, our new magazine publication catering to the state's business professionalsRead moreHomeFounder's WelcomeConference Co-ChairOrganizersGet InvolvedKeynote SpeakersAgendaSessionsNominationsRegistrationPartnership OpportunitiesVenueFlorida Diversity Council2011 ConferenceContact UsWhy Attend?We've got a thousand reasons why, butclick ... more »

Bullying Is Not a Rite of Passage—Theme of White House LGBT Safe Schools Conference | ED.gov Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Bullying Is Not a Rite of Passage—Theme of White House LGBT Safe Schools Conference | ED.gov Blog: Bullying Is Not a Rite of Passage—Theme of White House LGBT Safe Schools ConferencebyGuest BloggerWith the goal of empowering and informing advocates on the ground about the federal resources available to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community, White House officials joined federal and local partners at the first LGBT Conference on Safe Schools and Communities on March 20that the University of ... more »

Schools Matter: Protect Your Children And Stop the Orgy of Tabulation: Opt Out!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Schools Matter: Protect Your Children And Stop the Orgy of Tabulation: Opt Out!: Protect Your Children And Stop the Orgy of Tabulation: Opt Out!byJim HornGreat resource guide below--do have a look and get involved. This movement can bring an end the madness of high stakes standardized testing.Tuesday, April 17, 2012MEASURING SUCCESSOpting Out: Families and Advocates Against Standardized TestingEducation Perspectives for the Central ValleyPursuant to California Education Code 60615, parents have the right to opt their children out of the Standardized ... more »

The Washington State PTA Convention: Be There | Seattle Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

The Washington State PTA Convention: Be There | Seattle Education: The Washington State PTA Convention: Be Therebyseattleducation2011There is a movement underfoot to take our rogue PTA back in the state of Washington.It has been taken over withthe likes of Stand for Children and the League of Education Voters(LEV) who have been setting the agenda for the WSPTA for the last two years, an agenda which includes merit pay for teachers, evaluating a teacher’s performance based on test scores and the ... more »

Huge Quebec Student Strike Enters New Phase « Student Activism

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Huge Quebec Student Strike Enters New Phase « Student Activism: Huge Quebec Student Strike Enters New PhasebyAngus JohnstonQuebec’s ten-week student strike, now the longest in the province’s history, is reaching a critical point.Although government officials continue to reject students’ demand that they reverse a planned tuition increase, Quebec education minister Line Beauchamp said Sunday that she is willing to meet with student leaders to discuss demands forreform in university governance.That concession was echoed the next day byQuebec’s premier, Jean Charest. ... more »

Time to take a hard look at charter schools (Letter) | MLive.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Time to take a hard look at charter schools (Letter) | MLive.com: Time to take a hard look at charter schools (Letter)Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 6:00 AMByletter writersFollow1ShareEmailPrintI am not in the least surprised to hear that charter schools spend more on administration than they do on instruction. Here in Michigan, I would expect that result since 80 percent are for-profit charters.How lovely to think that charter schools’ use of our tax money not only goes for more administrative ... more »

Connecticut teachers' unions battles powerful outsiders over reform - Hartford Courant

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Connecticut teachers' unions battles powerful outsiders over reform - Hartford Courant: Teachers Union Battles Powerful InterestsOTHER OPINIONApril 16, 2012|By PHIL APRUZZESE and MARY LOFTUS LEVINE,The Hartford Courant"There is something awful going on in America. It has to do with scapegoating teachers, demonizing unions, and undermining education." That commentary is from former U.S. Assistant Commissioner of Education Diane Ravitch. Ravitch, who today is a professor and author, also is concerned about excluding teachers through top-down reforms. But that's exactly what anti-union... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: GAM vs. Tiger Moms

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: GAM vs. Tiger Moms: GAM vs. Tiger MomsbyAnngieLast year Amy Chua started a national debate about how hard parents should push their children to succeed. Her bookBattle Hymn of the Tiger Motherput a spotlight on the practices Chinese mothers used to get their children to the top of the success heap. Many Americans were appalled, but a slight note of worry was also struck by her comment to Meredith Vieira,"To be perfectly honest, I know that a ... more »

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm. « Fred Klonsky: Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Royko would have loved Rahm.byFred KlonskyFrom theSouthtown.That brilliant chronicler of the verities of Chicago’s corrupt politicians, Mike Royko, would see Rahm Emanuel, the Dimunitive Despot, as a columnist’s dream come true.The scenario of a former suburbanite and D.C insider, whose campaign was well funded by charter-school lobbyist money, destroying the Chicago Public Schools and the careers of dedicated teachers for political gain, would be ... more »

Equal Pay Day 2012 | The G Bitch Spot

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Equal Pay Day 2012 | The G Bitch Spot: Equal Pay Day 2012byG BitchThis year, it’s also Tax Day.Did your senators and/or representative support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009? Do they even acknowledge the wage gap? Do you live inWY where women earn 64% of what men do? Or are you lucky enough to have a federal job where the pay gap is less extreme—notabsentbut less extreme?Today’s reading: the National Committee on Pay Equity’spay equity info page. ...more »

The MomsRising blog is a soapbox where people across our nation can talk politics, policy, and parenting.

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

MomsRising Blog: "The MomsRising blog is a soapbox where people across our nation can talk politics, policy, and parenting."Equal Pay Day: A Joint Blog Carnival With National Women’s Law CenterRuth MartinatMomsRising Blog-17 minutes agoToday is not just Tax Day. It is also Equal Pay Day – the day that symbolizes how far into 2012 women must work to earn what men already earned in 2011. That’s right. Women have to work for 16.5 months to earn what men make in ... more »

This Week In Education: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urges

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

This Week In Education: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urges: Thompson: Refocus On Classroom Instruction, Brookings Urgesbyjohn thompsonThe contemporary data-driven "reform" movement, fundamentally, is a theoretical bank shot, where in the name of "output-based" accountability non-educators'change the subject away from teaching and learningin order tosomehow improve teaching and learning. "Choosing Blindly," by the Brookings Foundation's Grover Whitehurst and Matthew Chingos, is a reminder that the best wayto improve classroom outcomes is to concentrate on the... more »

Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone Investigated - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone Investigated - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Cui Bono? The Question Rarely Asked, Let Alone InvestigatedbyAnthony CodyFollow me onTwitter at @AnthonyCodyAs our public schools are systematically re-engineered for dubious reasons, with questionable results, by people of uncertain motives, there is a disturbing lack of skepticism on the part of our watchdogs for the public good, journalists. One of the basic principles of reporting is to ask "cui bono" - who ... more »

Some teachers feel frustrated, devalued by LA Unified | 89.3 KPCC

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Some teachers feel frustrated, devalued by LA Unified | 89.3 KPCC: Teacher: Cuts to arts education are a 'great tragedy'Pass / Fail-8 hours agoAt Peary Middle School in Gardena, visual arts teacher Valerie Davidson teaches drawing and painting to about 175 students. She is the only arts teacher in a school of nearly 2,000 students. "Less than 30 percent of the kids in school have access to the arts," Davidson said Monday at the RIF notice hearings at California Market ... more »

What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland about ed reformByValerie StraussFinland’shigh-achieving public school system is now part of the conversation about U.S. education reform these days. What, it is often asked, can we learn from Finland? (Plenty, actually, though U.S. reformers consistentlyignore the lessons.)The queryhas been asked and answered so often that it seems like a good time to ask what the ... more »

Asking Questions | Taking Note

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Asking Questions | Taking Note: Asking QuestionsbyJohn MerrowHow does one run a panel? John has some ideas.Question:You moderate a lot of panel discussions at education meetings, and you have a reputation for doing a pretty good job at it. In fact, some of those appearances are embedded above in this post. Can you pass along some tips to the rest of us?John:Sure, but why are you asking me now?Question:Well, you’re not getting any younger, are you?John:Fair enough. There’s really just ... more »