Even In Birthplace of Charter Schools, the Grand Experiment Is At Risk | TIME.com

Even In Birthplace of Charter Schools, the Grand Experiment Is At Risk | TIME.com:

Even In Birthplace of Charter Schools, the Grand Experiment Is At Risk

Two decades after the first charter school law passed in Minnesota, the movement is still struggling to reconcile innovation with accountability

By Sarah Butrymowicz / The Hechinger ReportAug. 22, 2013Add a Comment

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When the Minnesota New Country School opened two decades ago in Le Sueur, a rural town 60 miles southwest of Minneapolis, co-founder Dee Thomas and her teachers hoped to do things differently. There would be no bells between classes. Teachers would come to decisions democratically. Students would learn through self-directed projects instead of traditional classroom lectures.

For its entire existence, the school—which is adding elementary grades to serve students from kindergarten to 12th grade beginning this fall—has clung steadfastly to its initial vision. But with increasing amounts of state regulation and accompanying pressure on schools to perform well on one-size-fits-all standardized tests, New Country’s approach is at risk.

“I feel like I have a permanent bruise on my forehead from running into a brick wall,” said Thomas. The school’s future “is always in jeopardy whenever quality is based on traditional standards.”

(MORE: The Bourne Hypocrisy: Matt Damon’s Peculiar School Choice)

The nation’s first charter school law passed in Minnesota in 1991, an attempt to transform schools into laboratories of innovation. In return for this flexibility, schools would be forced to show results. But 22 years later, the national

Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/08/22/even-in-birthplace-of-charter-schools-the-grand-experiment-is-at-risk/#ixzz2cjNaZ42y

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the “Parent Trigger” | The Georgetown Public Policy Review

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the “Parent Trigger” | The Georgetown Public Policy Review:

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the “Parent Trigger”

Rhee, Stargel Got Some ‘Splainin’ to do About Those Parent Trigger Petition Signatures

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Georgetown Public Policy Review in Education // 0 Comments

by Scott Baumgartner

When Michelle Rhee’s organization Students First released its policy agenda last week, it tracked closely with many of the things she tried to do as chancellor of the DC Public Schools. But her agenda contains some surprises that have traditionally been part of the conservative approach to education reform, asnoted by Stephen Sawchuk at Education Week. One such aspect is her support for vouchers, though she takes great pains to avoid calling them by that toxic name. A somewhat newer idea she supports is the “parent trigger.” (Though many of the leaders of the parent trigger effort in California were actually Democrats, similar proposals in other states have been championed by Republicans.) In this radical reform option, dissatisfied parents can initiate a petition in an attempt to restructure a failing community school. California passed the first such law in the nation last year and in December, parents in Compton collected the necessary signatures to restructure McKinley Elementary School.

The parent trigger may sound like a bold idea to improve parent involvement in children’s schools. Rhee and Students First calls it “radical community empowerment” that “shifts power to the parents whose children are fated to attend chronically failing schools.” But the truth is somewhat cloudier. The parents who delivered the petitions to the Compton Unified School district were organized by Parent Revolution, a group whom, according to the L.A. Weekly, Michelle Rhee herself consulted with. It has an operating budget of about a million dollars, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Walton Foundation, among others.

Does a private organization’s involvement in the petition to restructure McKinley invalidate the signatures? To whom has the power been shifted – parents or opportunistic private organizers? On the one hand, 

PAA founding member Helen Gym on PDK/Gallup poll parent results | Parents Across America

PAA founding member Helen Gym on PDK/Gallup poll parent results | Parents Across America:

PAA founding member Helen Gym on PDK/Gallup poll parent results 

PAA founding member Helen Gym, of Philadelphia’s Parents United for Public Education, was an analyst and commenter for the newest Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll showing some of the strongest public support in decades for public schools and teachers while rejecting many of the current education reform practices like high stakes testing, vouchers, and de-funding of schools.

Helen’s comments, to be found on p. 23 of the PDK/Gallup poll report, are as follows:

As a public school parent in Philadelphia, I’m not surprised the 2013 PDK/Gallup poll on education indicates a significant gap between parents and education policy makers. Overwhelmingly, parents give high marks to the schools their children attend; 71% give them an A or B, the highest percentage in 20 years. We don’t fear for our child’s physical safety in school. We want to see our children progress at an individualized pace, we value extracurricular activities, and we believe the biggest problem facing public schools is financial support.

But contrast these beliefs with education policies that are stripping away art and science education, extracurricular activities, and critical supports like librarians, counselors, and aides. Our national agenda endorses homogenized, test-driven curricula, limiting teachers’ collective

- See more at: http://parentsacrossamerica.org/paa-founding-member-helen-gym-pdkgallup-poll-parent-results/?utm_source=feedly#sthash.cK1d2SYG.dpuf

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's press corps reduced to doing damage control

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's press corps reduced to doing damage control:

Rahm's press corps reduced to doing damage control

My favorite S-T headline. But just who is EVERBODY anyway?

"If you want to throw something at the cameras, go ahead, have at it. You let ‘em know the City of Chicago is on watch for the children of Chicago.” -- Rahm Emanuel

The mayor's war chest is overstuffed with money. He has the political backing of many of the biggest and richest  players in both political parties, including the POTUS. He has as yet, no announced opponent in the upcoming election. His expensive City Hall and CPS media spinners need an entire floor to fit them all in and his golf buddies even own the Sun-Times. .

My question then is, why is his press coverage so bad? Why is his message so out of control? Why does it seem like his PR people have been reduced to doing damage control and just about every editorial in both papers are dissing him and especially his ed policies?

Possible answers--

• It's because Rahm is such a a-hole that every reporter in town hates him.
• It's because his policies, especially around the school closings, are hurting so 

Diane in the Evening 8-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

North Carolina: Moral Mondays Grow

Join the movement to stop the privatization of public education in North Carolina! Stand up to the extremists in the legislature and the extremist governor who are band onion public education and vilifying the teaching profession.. This just in: Advocating for high-quality public schools for North Carolina. August 22, 2013 On Monday, August 26th, please wear RED for public ed! North Carolina is on

5 by dianerav / 48min 

Paul Thomas: Advice for Moguls and Celebrities

Paul Thomas of Furman University gas noticed an interesting and disturbing phenomenon. The people who seem most certain about telling schools how to change are those who have the least experience working in schools. Just one example that he gives: A movie director had dinner with two medical doctors and suddenly the director realized how to fix the nation’s schools. No experience needed. No resear

by dianerav / 15min 

My Secret

Here is the link to the story about the Obama plan to cut costs and measure everything for value-added in higher education. I forgot to add it because I was waiting in the doctor’s office for a check up and they called me in just when I was supposed to post the link. Here is my dirty little secret. I blog everywhere. It drives my friends and family crazy. I blog in taxis. I blog in elevators. I

by dianerav / 10min mark as read  //  save

Obama Proposes NCLB for Higher Education

President Obama proposed a plan to rate colleges much as schools are rated now. Their federal assistance would be based on performance indicators. This is supposed to save money but 75% of college instructors are already adjuncts, working for peanuts. More likely, the President loves Big Data and wants metrics. Next step: technology to replace adjuncts. That will cut costs for sure. The ideal uni

11 by dianerav / 29min 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Mercedes Schneider Compares AP and Gallup PollsMost of us don’t have the time to dig down into polls and figure out the nuances of wording and responses. Fortunately for us, Mercedes Schneider has done it for us. She here compares the AP-NORC poll which concluded that most parents like standardized testing to the PDK/Gallup poll, w

by mike simpson / 2h 

Torlakson Video - Hot Topics (CA Dept of Education)

Torlakson Video - Hot Topics (CA Dept of Education):

Torlakson Video

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Torlakson videotaped update.

---

On August 22, 2013, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson released a video on the next steps in theTransition to Assessments Based on the Common Core State Standards in California .

Text

NARRATOR: California's public schools are hard at work making the transition to the new common core standards, a practical step by step way to prepare students for the future.

TORLAKSON: The world is changing. For our students to be ready for careers and college, our schools must change, too.

NARRATOR: The next step is new computer-based assessments that will improve teaching and learning. These new tests will give teachers new insights and new tools to help reach every student and tell us whether we're getting the job done.

TORLAKSON: Policymakers can debate the pace of change, but outside our schools, in the world of work, there's no sign things are slowing down.

NARRATOR: To succeed these days, it takes more than basic skills like reading and math. California needs skilled workers who will think critically, tackle problems, communicate and collaborate—the very skills common core was designed for.

TORLAKSON: This is a challenge for our education system. It's going to take all of us—parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers and business leaders—but California has always led the way.

NARRATOR: And California must move forward now so that all children no matter where they come from or where they live get a world class education and graduate ready to contribute to California's future.

Learn more at cde.ca.gov/core.

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners? — Whole Child Education

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners? — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners?

August 22, 2013 by Rich McKinney

For years, school researchers have pointed to the digital divide between students from disparate socioeconomic groups as a major problem in public education. But now a different digital divide is receiving a closer look as research chronicles the widening gulf between the technology skills of teachers and the students who enter classrooms across the United States. While students often tend to be the earliest adopters of new technology, many teachers find that after lesson planning and grading there is little time left to become tech savvy. Unfortunately, many choose not to stay current, and they simply ignore or avoid technology as they continue to teach the same lessons in the same fashion. Therein lies the problem. Nearly 70 years ago, John Dewey claimed, "If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow." Dewey's prescient understanding of our emerging divide begs the question, "How can 20th century teachers effectively teach and lead 21st century learners?" While others have suggested a long-term solution that classroom educators must become 21st century teachers, I propose that the first step is in becoming a 21st century learner.

While there is much debate on what it means to be a 21st century learner, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills developed a framework which groups these skills into three major categories:

1. Learning and innovation skills include creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration;
2. Information, media, and technology skills focus on using, managing, and evaluating information from digita

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Union busting behind Rahm's privatization of Midway

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Union busting behind Rahm's privatization of Midway:

Union busting behind Rahm's privatization of Midway

I don't agree. 

A story in today's Sun-Times reveals some of the real reasons behind Rahm Emanuel'sassault on public space and public decision making. Reporter Fran Spielman's story is all about the planned privatization of Midway Airport. But it could just as easily be about privately-run charter schools, the Chicago Skyway, or the expansion of privately-managed charter schools. 

This time it's Aviation Committee ChairmanMichael Zalewski (23rd), whose ward includes Midway, who's kicking sand in Rahm's face. He’s concerned that a private contractor would attempt to shoehorn more late-night flights into the airport. But he's also worried about a revolt from the many union members who live in his ward.

His concerns are exacerbated by the fact that one of two finalists for the Midway lease — Spain’s Ferrovial — has been accused of “union 

8-22-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

The Role of the Board

The annual Board Evaluation, presented on July 3, 2013 made it clear that the Board would focus, over the coming six months, on defining the role of the Board. Two of those six months have passed, but I haven't seen any greater clarity on the role of the Board nor any overt effort to reach consensus on it. But Seattle isn't the only Board seeking clarity about their purpose.The University of Texas

by Charlie Mas / 32min 

8-21-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and EndsIn advanced of tonight's School Board meeting, a few updates:- packed speakers list.   Unfortunately, Mr. Garrett, who is one of the leaders of the groups at the Horace Mann building, is on the list.  He generally is not the most graceful and tactful of speakers so I expect that to be an unpleasant two minutes.As well, there are plenty of TFA people, i

by mike simpson / 17h 

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners? — Whole Child Education

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners? — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

How Can 20th Century Teachers Lead 21st Century Learners?

August 22, 2013 by Rich McKinney

For years, school researchers have pointed to the digital divide between students from disparate socioeconomic groups as a major problem in public education. But now a different digital divide is receiving a closer look as research chronicles the widening gulf between the technology skills of teachers and the students who enter classrooms across the U.S. While students often tend to be the earliest adopters of new technology, many teachers find that after lesson planning and grading there is little time left to become tech savvy. Unfortunately, many choose not to stay current, and they simply ignore or avoid technology as they continue to teach the same lessons in the same fashion. Therein lies the problem. Nearly 70 years ago, John Dewey claimed, "If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow." Dewey's prescient understanding of our emerging divide begs the question, "How can 20th century teachers effectively teach and lead 21st century learners?" While others have suggested a long-term solution that classroom educators must become 21st century teachers, I propose that the first step is in becoming a 21st centurylearner.

While there is much debate on what it means to be a 21st century learner, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills developed a framework which groups these skills into three major categories:

1. Learning and innovation skills include creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration;
2. Information, media, and technology skills focus on using, managing, and evaluating information from digita

The Opposite of Spoiled: The Right Way to Teach Kids About Money | toteachornototeach

The Opposite of Spoiled: The Right Way to Teach Kids About Money | toteachornototeach:

The Opposite of Spoiled:
The Right Way to Teach Kids About Money    

by J.D. Roth

What’s the best way to teach kids about money?

That question has haunted folks for decades — maybe centuries. There are dozens of financial literacy programs in the United States right now, but none of them seems to be effective. Why is that?

I’ve written before about why I think financial literacy education fails. Here’s the short version: Most financial literacy fails because it focuses too much on mechanics — how bonds work, the magic of compound interest — and not enough on behavior. While mechanics are key (they’re the foundation, after all), they’re not the most important aspect of financial success.

Here’s an analogy:

My brothers know how to read and write. They’re smart guys, and they’re both literate. But just because they know how to read and write doesn’t mean they practice those skills. One of my brothers used to proudly declare, “I haven’t read a book since high school.” (Oh, how that hurt my book-loving heart!) Knowing how to read doesn’t make you a reader. And knowing how to save doesn’t make you a saver.

Financial literacy is not the answer. We’ve got to do something more if we want to teach 

Charles Blow Is Wrong About the Common Core | Diane Ravitch

Charles Blow Is Wrong About the Common Core | Diane Ravitch:

Charles Blow Is Wrong About the Common Core

Charles Blow is one of the columnists in the New York Times that I usually count on to challenge the conventional wisdom and to speak up for the powerless.

Sadly, in this column, he parrots the conventional wisdom and voices the opinions of the elites.

Imagine, he calls the Broad Foundation a "reform" organization. The Broad Foundation is the source of policies that are privatizing public schools and destroying communities. Some of the worst, most arrogant leaders in U.S. education have been "trained" by the unaccredited Broad Academy. The foundation's guide on how to close schools is a bible for the corporate reform movement.

As for the international test scores, Blow should not have relied on Time magazine's Amanda Ripley. He should have looked at the Rothstein-Carnoy study, which demonstrates that the PISA results were misleading, or the recent article in the UK Times Educational Supplement, where test experts maintained that the scores on PISA are "meaningless," or considered the more recent TIMSS test, where American students did very well. Or read the chapter in my new book Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools, which explains the myths and facts about international testing.

Why in the world would he enthuse about the Common Core tests? As we saw recently in New York, the new tests widened the gaps between affluent and poor, between black and white, between English language learners and native speakers, between children with disabilities and those without. Common Core has no evidence to support its claims. The 

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, August 22, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Hoping for a visit from the money fairy Southern California charter school leader running for state superintendent | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Education Headlines

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Survey suggests Conejo Valley voters would support school bond

A survey of Conejo Valley voters has found modest support for a $229 million school bond measure to raise money for science and technology upgrades, infrastructure repairs and campus safety.

Chico district being cautious in face of enrollment dip

A report that was going to highlight some of the rosy fiscal news in the Chico Unified School District was shelved Wednesday night when an entirely unexpected dip in enrollment hit during the first days of the new school year.

Supervisors reject school bonds due to district’s financial woes

As Garden Grove school officials stare down a major structural budget deficit, the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday rejected their request to issue $120 million in bonds for infrastructure repairs.

Private police for public schools?

They huddled in coffee shops, diners, and conference rooms – former cops itching, on some level, to get back in the game. One guy knew another who knew another. Soon, a loose affiliation of ex-law enforcement types congealed into about a dozen. What brought them together? The horror of Dec. 14, 2012, when a madman armed for slaughter fatally shot 20 children, ages 6 and 7, and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Response to abuse report called 'pathetic'

The San Diego Unified School District has formed a focus group to address lingering questions about how it deals with adult-to-student bullying, according to a recently released report.

State Supreme Court to decide charter school access to LAUSD campuses

More than 12 years after California voters decreed that independent charters should have access to public school facilities, Los Angeles Unified remains embroiled in a legal battle over how to share its campus space with charters that request it.

Families of eight special needs students sue district claiming teacher abuse

The families of eight special needs students sued former teacher Dina Holder, her principal and other Brentwood school district employees Wednesday, claiming they failed to report abuse suspicions appropriately and alert the community that Holder was a convicted child abuser.

Fensterwald: Schools rising from budget depths, EdSource report finds

With the passage of Proposition 30 and implementation of a new funding system channeling more money to most districts this fall, the 2012-13 school year will be the base for measuring how well schools recover from the Great Recession. Yet as EdSource documents in a report issued Thursday, there will be a steep climb out of the trough.

Public opposes use of test scores in teacher reviews, poll shows

In a reversal of public opinion, a majority of Americans now oppose using student test scores to evaluate teachers and more believe that increased testing has hurt rather than helped improve public schools, a new survey shows.

Lawmakers OK probe of accrediting panel over CCSF

California lawmakers voted Wednesday to investigate whether the accrediting commission that is threatening to shut down City College of San Francisco is doing its job right.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Twin Rivers employees call for an end to administrators' pension perks

Twin Rivers Unified School District employees and union officials called on the school board to end pension perks to top administrators at a meeting Tuesday night.

Oxford Preparatory enrollment increases

With approval from the Capistrano Unified School District, Oxford Preparatory Academy, a K-8 charter school in Mission Viejo, is bumping its fall enrollment by 92 students, in part to accommodate existing students’ younger siblings.

Supervisors nix Garden Grove Unified's bond deal

Garden Grove Unified’s efforts to remodel its aging schools were left uncertain Tuesday after the Orange County supervisors declined the district’s request to borrow an additional $120 million.

Ex-Glendora Unified employee arrested in missing cash case

Glendora police detectives on Tuesday arrested a 35-year employee of the Glendora Unified School District after investigators uncovered the misappropriation of more than $350,000 in district funds.

8-22-13 Jersey Jazzman New Jersey's Shameful Superintendent Double Standard

Jersey Jazzman:

New Camden Super: Christie Shows Hypocrisy on School Spending Once Again

When Chris Christie first took over Camden's school district, he vowed he would do whatever he could to make the schools as good as the ones he demands for his own children: Christie, the father of four school-age children, expressed what he described as an obligation to get involved in the Camden district at a press conference today at Woodrow Wilson High School. "I don't want anything worse

14 by Duke / 1h 

New Jersey's Shameful Superintendent Double Standard

If you're like me, you're probably still stunned that Chris Christie recklessly put the future of Camden's schools into the hands of a 32-year-old with a grand total of six years of education experience, no advanced degrees of any kind, and no experience running a school, let alone a district. You'd think that the spectacular failure of Michelle Rhee in Washington, D.C. would be a cautionary tale

by Duke / 5min 

8-21-13 Jersey Jazzman Christie Appoints VERY Young Former Wall St. Analyst as Camden Superintendent

Jersey Jazzman: Christie Appoints VERY Young Former Wall St. Analyst as Camden SuperintendentI am, frankly, stunned: The city of Camden could soon be getting a new superintendent. Gov. Chris Christie announced his selection of Paymon Rouhanifard as the first State Superintendent of the Camden School District.  “Every child in New Jersey, regardless of zip code, deserves access to a high-quality ed

by mike simpson / 16h