Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 7-9-13 #neara13 #RYH4Ed #BATsACT #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE



UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE


CORPORATE ED REFORM

Dues Clues: Covering How Unions Spend Teachers' Money

Teachers unions are still a political powerhouse in many states, and even in right-to-work states where they have less influence unions still collect dues money from teachers and spend it on a variety of activities. As part of the EWA Summer School Webinars, we'll talk with reporters from The Hechinger Report and GothamSchoolsabout their joint project examining where teachers' unions are focusing their substantial resources. 

We're also going to share something new with reporters - the EWA Story Lab, a formula for getting started on digging into the financial activities of teachers' unions in your own community. You'll come away with a solid blueprint for localizing the issue for your own readers, as well additional teachers' union story ideas you are encouraged to take and make your own.

The webinar will be held Thursday, July 11 at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Sign up now to reserve your spot!

Have a question, comment or concern for the Educated Reporter? Email EWA public editor Emily Richmond at erichmond@ewa.org. Follow her on Twitter: @EWAEmily.


I have tons of stories from Aspen, but only one I’d like to share in this space. After former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, US diplomat Richard Haass, and Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy went at it onstage (verbally), everyone started to clutter around their favorite. While I didn’t see too many people around Haass, the room was evenly divided between Albright and Eltahawy. After her va

The Star’s series on child hunger in Indianapolis has made an important point: Our community needs to do more to address the issues of poverty and food insecurity in our city. However, social programs and charity will go only so far unless we face the underlying cause of these problems. Low-wage, no benefit jobs are holding our city back and trapping working families in a cycle of poverty. I work


as one can read in the Washington Post, in a story titled McDonnell’s corporation, wife allegedly benefited from $120,000 more from donor. Here is the beginning of the article: RICHMOND — A prominent political donor gave $70,000 to a corporation owned by Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and his sister last year, and the governor did not disclose the money as a gift or loan, according to people wi
  Anthony Bryk, the president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, said higher education leaders need “to be problem- and user-centered.” WASHINGTON — In order to improve persistence among diverse groups of students, higher education leaders should shun rhetoric and instead research and attack the root causes of failure. Those were some of the key points that Anthony S. Bryk


WASHINGTON -- On the eve of a major vote that would help some 7 million college students pay a lower interest rate on their new loans, Senate Democrats have failed to coalesce around a single proposal. On July 1, interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford loans doubled to 6.8 percent because of the expiration of a 2007 law that gradually lowered that rate. Wednesday's procedural vote on a p



This is a wonderful video, and great, engaging English practice!

Over 30,000 California prisoners started refusing meals on Monday morning in what might become the biggest hunger strike in California prison history, according to California's corrections department. So far, corrections officials have acknowledged that prisoners in two-thirds of the 33 prisons across the state, along with all of the out-of-state private prisons in the system, have missed at lea


Chinese students look at a newspaper outside an employment fair in Hefei, in east China's Anhui province.; Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images Dozens of  Chinese teenagers aboard the Boeing 777 that crashed in San Francisco on Saturday were headed to a summer English program in a religious school in the San Fernando Valley. Though it seemed unusual to those outside the education field, experts said a gr
Walmart on Tuesday threatened to abandon three planned stores in Washington, D.C. if the city enacted a so-called “living wage” bill targeting big-box stores. The Large Retailer Accountability Act was passed in the D.C. Council in late June by a 8-5 vote. If enacted, it would require...


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Added by Thomas Whitby on July 9, 2013
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by Diane Ravitch – Mercedes Schneider here reviews the controversial NCTQ report. Having reviewed the members of the board, she concludes that NCTQ is uniquely unqualified to pass judgement on the nation’s colleges of education. NCTQ is not a research organization. It is not a think tank. It is not a professional organization. It is ...read moreThe post Schneider on NCTQ Report: “Put on Your Hip B
by Chris Cerrone – This week in Albany the Network Team Institute is meeting again to move New York’s Common Core agenda forward.  Some of the activity is based around  “modules”   which basically script out entire units, lessons, and even homework. As an educator and parent I am very concerned about this push of ...read moreThe post Oscar winning lessons or B-Movie scripts? CCSS | Schools Matter
by Jim Horn – Registration information here for entire conference, July 11-14.  From the website: Calling all critical Teach For America (TFA) alumni and students, teachers, and community members impacted by TFA! Join us to organize resistance to TFA’s role in market-based educational reform. During this national assembly, you’ll have an opportunity to hear an overview of ...read moreThe post Form
1. Chicago Board of Education Disrupts Peaceful Student Speak-Out In June, Chicago Public Schools introduced a new per-pupil funding new system in which school budgets will be cut between $200,000 and $4 million. As a response to the massive budget cuts, Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools took action at the June 26 Board of Education meeting. ...read moreThe post From Austin to Charle
by Robert D. Skeels – “The education industry represents, in our opinion, the final frontier of a number of sectors once under public control… represents the largest market opportunity… the K-12 market is the Big Enchilada.” — Montgomery Securities prospectus quoted in Jonathan Kozol National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)’s dubious reputation for manufacturing “research” ...read moreThe post N

Parents Can!



Badass Teachers Association

This is for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of our society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning.

Chicago School Closings And The Joyce Foundation: The Obama Connection

Chicago School Closings And The Joyce Foundation: The Obama Connection:


Chicago School Closings And The Joyce Foundation: The Obama Connection



“They’re really in bed now with conservative elements nationwide,” said Mike Klonsky, a Chicago public schools activist and professor at DePaul University, in an interview with Mint Press News. “Anything that has to do with corporate-style school reform, you’ll probably see Joyce’s name in it.”

A Mint Press News investigation reveals the veracity of Klonsky’s statement — and then some.


President Barack Obama left, talks with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel right, after arriving at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
President Barack Obama left, talks with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel right, after arriving at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
The Windy City is is undergoing a tumultuous historical moment, with the uprising of the Chicago Teachers Union occurring alongside the ongoing restructuring and privatization of the Chicago Public Schools system.
Most recently, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel oversaw the closing of 50 public schools, many of which will be replaced by charter schools. A bulk of the 550 laid-off teachers will be replaced by Teach for America contractors, many of whom teach in charter schools.
“Statewide enrollment in charter schools has surged from 6,152 students in 2000 to 54,054 this school year — with most of them in Chicago — according to the Illinois State Board of Education,” an April Chicago Tribune editorial explained. “The first charter school in Illinois opened in 1996. Now there are 132 campuses operating under 58 charters.”
A thus-far underreported story of the retooling of CPS concerns a foundation close the epicenter of it all: the Joyce Foundation.
Joyce is a major liberal foundation. President Barack Obama sat on its board of directors from 1994 to 2002, as did Valerie Jarrett, his former senior advisor and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement .
A look at major organizations dedicated to restructuring U.S. education turns up a slew of current and former upper-level Joyce staff and board members.
Between 1995 and 2012, the Joyce Foundation spent $135.58 million on education reform.
“They’re really in bed now with conservative elements nationwide,” said Mike Klonsky, a Chicago 

Harlem School For Special Needs Students Fights Success Academy Expansion - Central Harlem - DNAinfo.com New York

Harlem School For Special Needs Students Fights Success Academy Expansion - Central Harlem - DNAinfo.com New York:

Harlem School For Special Needs Students Fights Success Academy Expansion

Jeff Mays

By Jeff Mays on July 9, 2013 3:00pm | Updated 6 hrs ago

Success Academy Harlem 1 Expansion
The Department of Education has announced plans for P.S. 811 to lose three classrooms used for things such as speech the...
DNAinfo/Jeff Mays
HARLEM —  Since her 6-year-old autistic son enrolled in classes at P.S. 811 in Harlem, Genell Davis, 35, has noticed nothing but steady improvement.
"He's flourished. He reads now and he's trying to speak Spanish. He does addition and subtraction and he's on a level higher than his class," said Davis, who serves as the parent teacher association president at the co-located District 75 school that serves students with special needs.
But Davis is worried that her son Demetris' rapid progression will be stunted now that the Department of Education has announced plans for the school to lose three classrooms used for things such as speech therapy and occupational therapy in the 2014 school year to the expanding Success Academy Harlem 1 school at the building on 118th 

My Very First Youtube Posting | deutsch29

My Very First Youtube Posting | deutsch29:

My Very First Youtube Posting

July 9, 2013


Dr. Raynard Sanders of the New Orleans Imperative radio program (theneworleansimperative.org; WBOK1230am.com) invited me to speak on his hour-long show about school performance scores, the Recovery School District (RSD) and Teach for America (TFA). I spoke for about 20 minutes; then, phone lines were opened for a few callers. I spoke some more; a couple more callers.
One of the callers was Louella Givens, who lost her BESE seat to amply-reform-funded TFAer Kira Orange-Jones. A little background on that BESE seat purchase:
In just one of these [BESE seat] races, the executive director of Teach for America Greater New Orleans-Louisiana Delta, Kira Orange Jones, outspent attorney Louella Givens, who was endorsed by the state’s main teacher’s unions, by more than thirty-four to one: $472,382 to $13,815.
To support Orange Jones’s campaign against Givens, Eli Broad, billionaire head of the education reform organization the Broad Foundation and a major trainer and placer of school superintendents (including John White), chipped in $5,000.

South Asian American Digital Archive seeks stories for the First Days Project

South Asian American Digital Archive seeks stories for the First Days Project:

angry asian man


SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE SEEKS STORIES FOR THE FIRST DAYS PROJECT



The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) is a nonprofit organization working to document the rich histories of South Asians in the United States and preserve the community's stories for future generations.

SAADA is putting the call out stories from South Asian Americans about their first day in the United States. TheFirst Days Project captures poignant narratives from the lives of new immigrants through a snapshot of one day -- the excitement, nervousness, loss, humor, sadness, anticipation, confusion, and everything else that happens when one arrives in a new country.

First Day stories will be accepted through July 31 and can be submitted as video, audio or text. Here are some more details on what they're looking for:

Whose stories are you interested in?

We are collecting stories from individuals who trace their heritage to South Asia about their first day in the United States. We are interested in stories from those who came to the U.S. directly from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) as well as the many South Asian diaspora communities across the globe (i.e. Trinidad, Guyana, Uganda, Australia, UK, Canada, etc.).
What time frame are you interested in?

We are looking for stories dating back as far as possible and as recently as this year.

What formats do you accept?

Stories can be submitted as video, audio or text. Video and audio can be up to 3 minutes long and text submissions are limited to 300 words. If you are submitting video, upload the file to Youtube or Vimeo and submit a link to us. Audio (as mp3, aiff, aac and wma) and text can be submitted directly through the SAADA website. If you are submitting audio or text we'd also love for you to submit a photo of yourself (either from the time of your first day or more recent).

Can I share someone else's story?

Yes, absolutely! We'd love for you to submit your own story or that of a family member or friend. If you are submitting a story on someone's behalf please be absolutely sure that they are aware that their story will be published on the SAADA website.
This is such a fantastic idea. They've already posted a bunch of stories, and they're awesome. My South Asian brothers and sisters, you or your family members have a story to share. For further information, and to submit a story, head over to the South Asian American Digital Archive.

4LAKids - COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING CONSIDERS DANCE & THEATER CREDENTIAL

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING CONSIDERS DANCE & THEATER CREDENTIAL:

COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING CONSIDERS DANCE & THEATER CREDENTIAL

California Alliance for Arts Education

PUBLISHED BY CAAE STAFF | CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION HTTP://BIT.LY/12KOWYC


June 10, 2013 - 2:55pm  ::  On June 13, 2013, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) heard a series of action items that included the Teacher Advisory Panel (TAP) recommendations on how to update and improve teacher preparation in California, one of which was for the creation of a single subject credential in the areas of theatre and dance.
The TAP provided a strong rational for creating these new credentials including distinct subject-specific standards within the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards, and highlighting the intentional differences between the VAPA Dance/Physical Education and VAPA Theatre/English Language Arts standards.
Multiple documents supporting the TAP recommendation from state and national dance and theatre organizations were entered into evidence. Survey data from statewide survey on the TAP recommendations also indicated strong support for immediate action on the credential recommendation.  And numerous organizations sent letters of support, inclduing the California Alliance, urging their support for this simple and powerful step. It was an encouraging showing of support for the Theatre and Dance credential. The general agreement 

Formed to back Bloomberg, StudentsFirstNY now an adversary | GothamSchools

Formed to back Bloomberg, StudentsFirstNY now an adversary | GothamSchools:

Formed to back Bloomberg, StudentsFirstNY now an adversary


CAPTION
Sonia Saddler joined a protest organized by StudentsFirstNY because she was unhappy with how many times her grand-niece’s kindergarten teacher at P.S. 92 was absent last year.
An advocacy group that fought for changes to teacher evaluations plans to cite data from the old rating system in a civil rights suit against the city.
In a complaint that hasn’t yet been filed, StudentsFirstNY will ask the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to investigate the distribution of teacher quality in city schools. The group issued a report in January finding that the 3 percent of teachers rated “unsatisfactory” last year worked disproportionately often in schools with many poor students of color. Its complaint will allege that the distribution was the result of discriminatory city policies.
Filing a complaint against the Bloomberg administration is an unusual move for StudentsFirstNY, which was formed to defend the mayor’s education policies and criticize opponents during the mayoral election. Some of