StudentsFirst ‘parent trigger’ petition: Phony signatures?:

StudentsFirst ‘parent trigger’ petition: Phony signatures?

Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 29, 2013 at 6:00 am

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A petition in support of “parent trigger” legislation in Florida spearheaded by StudentsFirst, Michelle Rhee’s education advocacy group, apparently has numerous signatures on it from people who say they didn’t sign it.

That’s what the Miami Herald/Times reported in this story after questions were raised about the authenticity of signatures on the petition and reporters sent e-mails to everybody on it to see if they actually signed it. The story said:

On Sunday, The Herald/Times sent an email to each person who had allegedly signed the online petition. Of the 241 who responded, 212 confirmed their signatures. … But 29 people said they had not signed the petition….

“I did NOT join my name to a petition in support of the so-called Parent Empowerment Act,” wrote John Raymaker, of Tallahassee. “Instead, I signed a petition OPPOSING this act. More deceitful, incredibly dishonest tactics!”

 

 

E-mails I sent to StudentsFirst spokeswoman Ileana Wachtel went unanswered. The Herald quoted StudentsFirst Regional Press Secretary Calvin Harris as saying the group  “stands by the authenticity of 

State funding for preschool drops as Obama calls for expansion

by Michael Alison Chandler

State funding for preschool across the country dropped last school year after a decade of growth, tapping the brakes on the quality and reach of programs as President Obama has called for a massive expansion of early childhood education, according to a national survey scheduled for release Monday.
Read full article >>

First academic study of controversial LA Unified teacher evaluation program | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

First academic study of controversial LA Unified teacher evaluation program | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

First academic study of controversial LA Unified teacher evaluation program

by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

Pilot program using student tests scores to evaluate teacher gets its own good grade in first study.; Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images News
An academic study of a teacher evaluation method that looks at how much teachers are able to improve students' test scores gave the pilot program a good grade. But the study comes too late -- the teacher's union and Los Angeles Unified School District agreed not to use the measure in the district's new teacher evaluation protocols.
The Academic Growth over Time became a lightning rod of criticism by the teachers union and some academics. At issue was whether it was fair to judge a teacher's effectiveness by looking at how a student's test scores had improved from year to year. Critics say the method doesn’t accurately capture all the factors in and outside the classroom that go into improving a student’s test scores.
USC researcher Katharine Strunk studied how it was implemented in group of L-A Unified schools last academic year.

"It indicates that the principals and other leaders that were assessing teachers using these protocols did a nice job doing that," she said. "It means that the value added score, the AGT that was generated, is also a solid 

Preschool Funding Reached 'State Of Emergency' In 2012: NIEER Report

Preschool Funding Reached 'State Of Emergency' In 2012: NIEER Report:

Preschool Funding Reached 'State Of Emergency' In 2012: NIEER Report

by Joy Resmovits

States are drastically underfunding programs for their youngest learners now more than ever, according to a report released Monday, even as researchers and policymakers increasingly point to pre-school as a ladder to the middle class.

Funding per student for state pre-school programs has reached its lowest point in a decade, according to "The State of Preschool 2012," the annual yearbook released by Rutgers University's National Institute for Early Education Research. "The 2011-2012 school year was the worst in a decade for progress in access to high-quality pre-K for America’s children," the authors wrote. After a decade of increasing enrollment, that growth stalled, according to the report. Though the 2011-2012 school year marks the first time pre-K enrollment didn't increase along with the rate of population change.

"The state of preschool was a state of emergency" in 2012, said Steve Barnett, NIEER's director. Between the 

Where Is The Middle Ground In The Education Debate

Where Is The Middle Ground In The Education Debate:

Where Is The Middle Ground In The Education Debate

By Jeff Bryant | October 13, 2011

By the time that July slips slowly off the calendar, events this month — culminating with an upcoming teacher/parent-organized march on the nation’s capital – will have clarified all too well the lay of the land in the debate on the fate of our nation’s public schools.

And no, education is not “the new abortion,” as was recently declared in this article by Richard Whitmire, author of The Bee Eater: Michelle Rhee Takes on the Nation’s Worst School District. Although it’s easy for journalists to characterize the edu-debate as a classic struggle between “two sides” who “just glare and shout” at each other, this is a gross over-simplification.

Even a good education reporter like Dana Goldstein can make this mistake, as she did in a recent blog post when she declared that resolving the conflict over education policy was just a matter of finding the “middle ground” between “contentious binaries,” such as 

The Educated Reporter: State Spending on Preschool Hits 10-Year Low as Policymakers Push for Federal Investment

The Educated Reporter: State Spending on Preschool Hits 10-Year Low as Policymakers Push for Federal Investment:

State Spending on Preschool Hits 10-Year Low as Policymakers Push for Federal Investment

by Emily Richmond

Even as President Obama launches a massive push expand preschool opportunities for young children, early childhood education advocates are expressing dismay over a new report that access and funding have hit 10-year lows.

The president's plan would expand opportunities for families that don't have the means to pay for private preschool programs but also earn too much to qualify for existing state programs aimed at children in poverty.

Here are a few of the sure-to-be sound bite statistics in the State of Preschool 2012 Yearbook, compiled by theNational Institute for Early Education Research:

· Among the 40 states that offer pre-K programs, funding dropped by more than $548 million – the largest one-

Analysis: Experience in Florida suggests caution with teacher evaluations not a bad idea SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Analysis: Experience in Florida suggests caution with teacher evaluations not a bad idea

By Tom Chorneau
Monday, April 29, 2013

Last week California lawmakers failed for a second consecutive year to find agreement on a new system for evaluating classroom educators – shooting down in the state Senate what the author called a modest proposal requiring districts to use multiple measurements in performing evaluations at least every three years for veteran personnel.

The legislation faced stiff opposition from the state’s powerful teachers unions, and while linking teacher pay with student performance remains a key goal of the Obama administration, there remained enough uncertainty around the proposal to cause its demise, again.

SB 441 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, is scheduled for reconsideration this Wednesday but even the author does not appear optimistic he will find the one additional vote needed to move the bill along.

There may be good reason for critics to howl about this outcome – especially as evidence mounts that the current system is not workable.

But looking around at other states, particularly Florida, might suggest the best move is to wait for a better answer.

The sunshine state, which has basked in national attention for its progressive education agenda, was an early entry in 

Moms’ group shakes up status quo on Texas’ testing regimen | www.statesman.com

Moms’ group shakes up status quo on Texas’ testing regimen | www.statesman.com:

Moms’ group shakes up status quo on Texas’ testing regimen

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Rodolfo Gonzalez

The leaders of Texans Advocating For Meaningful Student Assessments have sparked a statewide parent movement to curtail standardized testing.

By Kate Alexander

American-Statesman Staff

They were dismissed as moms, overprotective and easily manipulated moms.

But those women, determined to protect their children from state testing mandates that they say had gone too far, have overwhelmed the powerful business and political forces that made Texas the capital of high-stakes testing.

It started small, with just eight women from Austin and suburban Houston at the center. But the movement spread fast and wide, and now Texas is on the verge of a dramatic testing turnaround.

“Who allowed these big boys to go and play in education? Now the moms have to clean it up, as usual,” said Theresa Treviño, a child psychiatrist and Austin mother who helped launch the parent group, Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessments.

The group has spurred parents from across the state to flood the Capitol phone lines, pack 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle MAP Protest Goes On (and Goes International)

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle MAP Protest Goes On (and Goes International):

Seattle MAP Protest Goes On (and Goes International)

by Melissa Westbrook

There is a press conference tomorrow by the Seattle teachers/staff against MAP testing to announce the boycott for the next round of testing is to grow larger.  (They will be announcing new schools joining in.)

Their message to the district; Don't Renew the MAP Contract.  The MAP contract expires this spring and the call is for the Superintendent to decline to renew the contract with NWEA.

From the press release:

Garfield history teacher Jesse Hagopian said, “Our movement for quality assessment is becoming an ‘educators’ spring’ uprising. New elementary and high schools in Seattle are joining the movement here in Seattle. Hundreds of teachers from around the state just voted overwhelming to support the continuing MAP test boycott at the Washington Education Association’s end of April Representative Assembly. In Chicago hundreds of students walked out of school to protest their own high stakes test. In New York thousands of parents have opted their children out of a standardized test—and this is all just in the last week.” 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: In Advance of the Mayoral Forums

Seattle Schools Community Forum: In Advance of the Mayoral Forums:

In Advance of the Mayoral Forums

by Melissa Westbrook

The King County Democrats had their endorsement interviews this weekend and have put up the questionaires that each candidate filled out.  Very illuminating.

To note:

• Murray, Martin, Harrell, Steinbrueck all say no to charters (and vouchers)
• Burgess and McGinn gave "qualified" answers to charters.  Here they are:

Burgess
I did not support the charter school campaign last year as I viewed that effort as a distraction from some of the larger issues we need to address related to public education. I’m a strong advocate for innovation and reform in public education, but these initiatives should be pursued in cooperation with our teachers, principals and parents. We have seen significant reforms in Seattle Public Schools through the collective bargaining process; for example, teacher evaluation protocols and creative approach schools.

McGinn
I believe we should monitor the 40 charter schools authorized statewide by the statewide initiative to determine 

Changing Membership, Changing Electorate | JD2718

Changing Membership, Changing Electorate | JD2718:

Changing Membership, Changing Electorate

by jd2718

This is a time series of charts, showing UFT membership and votes by division for the 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013 elections. I created the charts from the numbers of ballots mailed and the number of ballots returned, which has been part of the reported election results, including this year.
Raw numbers, by division, by year, with turnout percentages are included at the bottom of this post.
Members by Division, by year

Voters by Division, by Year

UFT Elections – Sitting at the Count

by jd2718

I arrived. Hotel meeting room, for a large meeting, set up with rows of tables with ballot counters doing something… sorting? flattening? stacking?  In front were some more important looking tables. I missed the scanners and monitors – I was looking for something else.
In the back, right, were the observers. I found Joel Berger, then found Mike Shulman. They were not wearing their concern on their faces, but I felt it. Before walking out with Mike I said hi to some of the Unity people and some of the MORE people. The Unity people looked bored, and perhaps a bit tired. The MORE people were relaxed.
Mike and I found a quiet place to sit around the corner. We looked through the participation numbers… down

UFT election turnout is concerning

by jd2718

Reviewing data since 2004, participation in UFT elections is down across the board. In 2007 there was a drop, an uptick in 2010, and a big drop in 2010. This trend was stronger than any variation among the divisions, including retirees. Here are the percents by division, followed by the divisional data displayed as a line graph…

	2004	2007	2010	2013
Elementary	34%	24%	28%	21%
Middle	28%	19%	25%	17%
High	31%	23%	26%	20%
Functional	27%	21%	23%	15%
Retirees	49%	45%	46%	38%
Subtotals
Teachers	32%	23%	27%	20%
In Service	30%	22%	25%	18%
Total	36%	29%	32%	25%

The same data, graphed:

Gov. Brown Calls for Redistribution of School Funding :: Fox&Hounds

Gov. Brown Calls for Redistribution of School Funding :: Fox&Hounds:

Gov. Brown Calls for Redistribution of School Funding

By Katy Grimes

Calwatchdog.com news reporter

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Citing a lack of civil rights and social inequities as what is wrong with California public schools, Gov. Jerry Brown vowed Wednesday at a Capitol press conference to give more money to the K-12 school districts that serve poorer students and English-language learners.

Brown said state funding needs to balance social equity and restore school funding cuts; and provide supplemental funding to children in high-poverty schools.

Following passage of Proposition 30 last November, raising taxes $6 billion, Brown’s controversial plan to shift money from wealthier schools to poor ones is a result of an emboldened Democratic supermajority.

Lawmakers and the governor are clearly preparing for the state’s looming June 15 budget deadline, with Brown working hard to get his proposal passed. Earlier this week, state 

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Failure to Manage

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Failure to Manage:

Seattle Schools Transportation - Towncars?

by Melissa Westbrook

From the "Uh Oh" department, KIRO news is going to have a report at 5 p.m. about SPS transportation.   They allege it includes private transportation of "hundreds" of students, some in towncars.  (I knew SPS used taxis.)  I'm hoping the district has a clear explanation AND the KIRO actually gives them the time to explain it.

Failure to Manage

by Charlie Mas

The core mission of Seattle Public Schools is to educate students. The executives and managers in the District who are most directly responsible for the accomplishment of that mission are:

• Superintendent, Jose Banda
• Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Michael Tolley
• Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support, Shauna Heath
• Executive Directors of Schools, Marni Campbell, Carmela Dellino, Kim Whitworth
• Principals

I don't know about your workplace, but any organization with any kind of intentional management makes a periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the organization's efforts. The same can and should be expected from Seattle Public Schools.



For the schools, the School Report Cards are intended to fulfill this function. The report cards from a number of schools could be combined for the regions and there is a District Scorecard that compiles the data for the whole district.

There are others who have part of the management responsibility as well. They include:

• Executive Director of Special Education, Zakiyyah McWilliams
• Director of English Language Learners, Veronica Gallardo
• Manager of Advanced Learning, Robert Vaughan
• Manager of Native American Education, Arlie Neskahi
• Administrator of International Education, Karen Kodama

There are no Report Cards that tell about the performance of these programs. While there is some opportunity to 

Chicago Student Boycott: Israel and Malcolm set the record straight – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

Chicago Student Boycott: Israel and Malcolm set the record straight – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

Chicago Student Boycott: Israel and Malcolm set the record straight

by Timothy D. Slekar

 “Hundreds of Chicago students are taking up the mantle in the fight against the role of standardized tests in public school closures as they walked out of a state exam Wednesday. Their message: “We are over-tested, under-resourced and fed up!” Common Dreams.

“The only place that students should be during the school day is in the classroom with their teachers getting the education they need to be successful in life,” said Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Chicago Public Schools CEO, in response to the boycott.MSNBC

So are students “over tested” or should they be “in the classroom with their teachers?”

Listen to what Chicago students Israel and Malcolm had to say on @the chalkface radio.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chalkface/2013/04/28/at-the-chalk-face-progressive-edreform-talk

Someone has 

inBloom. Colorado. May 16th. Be Informed. | United Opt Out National

inBloom. Colorado. May 16th. Be Informed. | United Opt Out National:

inBloom. Colorado. May 16th. Be Informed.

by admin

Did you know that Jefferson County Public Schools will share confidential and personal student records with a corporation and store them on a data “cloud” without parental consent? Did you know that this corporation, called inBloom, Inc., intends to share the information with vendors to help them develop and market their “learning products?”

The data will include children’s name, address, email, test scores, racial, economic and special education status, and may include detailed disciplinary and health records as well. See here for a sample of data they can collect.

Colorado (Jefferson County) is one of nine “pilot” states that have agreed to share confidential student and teacher data with inBloom Inc. According to 

Peg with Pen: Open the Door. Speak Loudly.

Peg with Pen: Open the Door. Speak Loudly.:

Open the Door. Speak Loudly.

by Peggy

In light of what has happened to teachers this week who have been fired, disciplined and reprimanded by those who wish to silence us - see here, here, and here - this is my response: 

Teachers are public intellectuals - this includes being involved in politics and advocating for our students - this is part of our job. The mantra of "shut the door and do what is best for your students" is simply not good enough anymore. 

We must open the door and speak loudly.

“It’s our democracy, stupid.” | Deborah Meier on Education

“It’s our democracy, stupid.” | Deborah Meier on Education:

“It’s our democracy, stupid.”

by debmeier

Friends,
The continued existence of democracy, much less an even stronger one, is what is in a crisis. The “school crisis”, along with many others, is a distraction. Just a symptom of the more serious crisis we face. Schools are simply one of our many institutions that are under attack. The very “idea” of democracy is being undermined over and over again–and its not easy for me to see how we can put humpty-dumpty together again. Because it’s democracy that is the real basis for the idea of accountability! “Throw the rascals out” is where it all begins. But “accountability” is now being used as a tool to undermine democracy!
The democracy we have experienced for several hundred years was pretty thin at it’s start, and began slowly to take on some flesh—as more and more of us were included, viewed as members of “the ruling class” with a right to make decisions about our future. But on every front we’re losing ground: voting? Clearly between gerrymandering and media consolidation and huge spending by rich individuals, corporations and foundations (so-called) the decks are heavily stacked against “us”. For perhaps the first (or 2nd?) time in our history the people’s vote for Congress is not reflected in who got elected to represent us. The number of low-income and black citizens who are now in jail make a mockery of democracy–and deprive millions of their right to vote. And