10-7-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: 

And in Windham, parents and teachers speak out against Adamowski

Last week, at a forum sponsored by the Windham Federation of Teachers and the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), parents, teachers and other local Windham residents met with State Senator Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-29) and State Representative Susan Johnson (D-49) to voice their outrage about the way “Special Master,” “Special […]The post And in Windham, parents and teache

2 by jonpelto / 7min 

10-6-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: A case study of how sound bites don’t always reflect reality…Governor Malloy calls on Federal Government to pay unemployment benefits for Sikorsky shutdown adding its “unacceptable that Connecticut taxpayers be made to pay for the failures of Republicans in Washington.” It is unacceptable for Connecticut taxpayers to be paying for the failure of Republicans in Washington, but the Sikor

by mike simpson / 8h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Matt Damon and Diane Ravitch speaking at my alma mater, Cal-State Northridge.

Matt Damon

“I’m very honored to have the opportunity to introduce Diane tonight. She’s somebody that I have admired for a very long time. She’s an amazing person. She’s America’s foremost historian in the areas of education policy, she’s a champion of public education, she’s a courageous speaker and she’s a truth-teller.” -- Daily Sundial

Diane Ravitch

Do we have problems in American education? Of course we do! Our single biggest problem is that our policymakers have ignored the toxic effects of poverty and segregation. Our inner-city kids have low academic performance 

Shanker Blog » Thoughts On Using Value Added, And Picking A Model, To Assess Teacher Performance

Shanker Blog » Thoughts On Using Value Added, And Picking A Model, To Assess Teacher Performance:

Thoughts On Using Value Added, And Picking A Model, To Assess Teacher Performance

Posted by Dan Goldhaber on October 7, 2013

Our guest author today is Dan Goldhaber, Director of the Center for Education Data & Research and a Research Professor in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Bothell.

Let me begin with a disclosure: I am an advocate of experimenting with using value added, where possible, as part of a more comprehensive system of teacher evaluation. The reasons are pretty simple (though articulated in more detail in a brief, which you can read here). The most important reason is that value-added information about teachers appears to be a better predictor of future success in the classroom than other measures we currently use. This is perhaps not surprising when it comes to test scores, certainly an important measure of what students are getting out of schools, but research also shows that value added predicts very long run outcomes, such as college going and labor market earnings. Shouldn’t we be using valuable information about likely future performance when making high-stakes personnel decisions? 

It almost goes without saying, but it’s still worth emphasizing, that it is impossible to avoid making high-stakes decisions. Policies that explicitly link evaluations to outcomes such as compensation and tenure are new, but even in the absence of such policies that are high-stakes for teachers, the stakes are high for students, because some of them are stuck with ineffective teachers when evaluation systems suggest, as is the case today, that nearly all teachers are effective.

I also believe the use of value added has helped drive a much deeper conversation about evaluating teachers, a  

Can magnet programs lure affluent African-American families back to their neighborhood schools? | Hechinger Report

Can magnet programs lure affluent African-American families back to their neighborhood schools? | Hechinger Report:

Can magnet programs lure affluent African-American families back to their neighborhood schools?

By Ryan Johnson

As a child, my predominantly African-American enclave in South Los Angeles seemed perfect with its hilly landscape, the view of the city, and the close relationships I had with my neighbors. But in my teens, reality set in and my perspective began to change.

Ryan Johnson

Weekends became my only chance to spend time with other kids like me. We all lived in the same middle-class neighborhood, yet we traveled all over the city for a good education. “Have car, will travel,” became my mother’s refrain. I would attend meetings of Jack and Jill—an African-American community service-based organization— and compare stories with my peers about balancing one-hour commutes with homework and extracurricular activities, and what it’s like to attend schools where there were very few people of color.

I wondered why couldn’t I attend my local public schools, what resources were they lacking, and why neighborhood parents were willing to commute so far?

My neighborhood, Baldwin Hills, may be primarily African American but it is socioeconomically diverse and is divided into two separate areas, the Dons and the Jungle. The Dons, where my family lives, is home to mostly black professionals and is sometimes nicknamed the black Beverly Hills 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

“We Are Building a Plane in Mid-Air”

I have heard this expression hundreds of times. Sometimes at staff development, they show cartoon figures building a plane in mid-air. Note that the engineers are wearing parachutes. Note that the passengers–students and teachers–have no parachutes. Bear in mind that the idea of building a plane as it is in mid-air is insane. The next time you hear this expression, do one of these things: Get

by dianerav / 3min 

A Comment from Western New York: Yes, the Tide Is Turning

Protests are gathering steam against high-stakes testing. Parents, students, and educators are organizing to fight the data-driven mechanistic view of schooling that is ruining education. Politicians follow, they don’t lead. Most have no idea of the damage done by NCLB and Race to the Top. They think that “reform” is positive. They don’t know that the language has been distorted to hide the barrag

3 by dianerav / 32min mark as read  //  save

Exiting Teacher on Why Professionalism Matters

A comment on the blog: I have been recently forced out of Education after 30 years – perhaps there’s a truth that I am tired, a bit worn out and old school – I cared as much about the child as their progress. But I still have a child in the midst of it (although not in the US) and am appalled at what is happening. Good teaching is paramount and that means good training and an understanding of ed

by dianerav / 41min 

George Schmidt Reviews “Reign of Error”

George Schmidt is a veteran Chicago teacher and writer. I recall that when my 2010 book came out, wherein I renounced my long-held views on testing, accountability, and choice, Schmidt was unimpressed. He gave me a tongue-lashing for being a latecomer to the issues he knew so well. To put it mildly, he was angry at me and suspicious of my sincerity. In his review of “Reign of Error,” he accepts th

by dianerav / 23min 

My Speaking Schedule for the Next Few Weeks

Here are the events that I have scheduled to talk about Reign of Error, the misguided policies that afflict education today, and what we should be doing instead of the status quo of the past generation. Tuesday, October 8: BROOKLYN, NY 7:30 pm Brooklyn By the Book, Congregation Beth Elohim and Community Bookstore 274 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, NY 11215. (Diane will be in conversation with David Den

1 by dianerav / 16min mark as read  //  save

Reader: Governor Corbett Should Be Prosecuted

This letter comes in response to a post by TeacherBiz, aka Ani McHugh. Dr. Ravitch, I worked for 29 years for NJEA and six for PSEA. I worked with local teacher associations in some of the poorest cities in both those states (NJ and PA), including Chester-Upland. What is happening in CU is nothing short of a criminal assault on the poorest of the poor, led by politicians who have allowed the sta

by dianerav / 31min 

Common Core Tests in NY Spur Opt Out Movement

The most amazing thing is happening. The Common Core tests were made so “rigorous” that most students were expected to fail, and they did. Less than a third across the state “passed” the tests because the passing mark was set very high and the content of the test was so challenging that many students couldn’t finish the test. But parents didn’t get angry at their children’s school or their childre

9 by dianerav / 28min mark as read  //  save

Joanne Barkan: How Big Philanthropy Undermines Democracy

Joanne Barkan has an excellent essay in Dissent magazine that explains how foundations founded by plutocrats use their wealth and political power to damage democracy. She uses the example of public education to demonstrate how a small number of large foundations have captured control of public policy, taking it out of the hands of voters and parents to impose their will and get what they want. S

8 by dianerav / 1h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-6-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: And Now, About My CriticsI have been more than thrilled by the response to my new book. Today it is #10 on the New York Times best seller list, next week it will be #15. My guess is that as more educators and parents read it, they will recommend it to others. I hope they will form study groups to discuss the issues it raises. My ho

by mike simpson / 8h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 10-5-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGTODAYIs Free Speech Dead in Oklahoma?I just learned that Rob Miller, principal of the Jenks Middle School in Oklahoma, is under investigation for possibly encouraging parents to opt out of a field test. According to the Tulsa World: Jenks Public Schools participated in and encouraged a movement to opt students out of fiel

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

10-7-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

Special Edition Of “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t” — October

(Usually, I just post a weekly version of this regular feature. However, sometimes I post an extra “Special Edition” when I have more good links than usual) I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them he

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1min 

Create “Playlists” Of Educational Videos, Websites & Google Docs With HippoCampus

I’ve previously posted about HippoCampus a number of times, and it’s on several “The Best…” lists. It has pretty extensive video collections in a number of subjects, and I’ve often used their U.S. History resources. I’ve just learned from Beth Pickett, a HippoCampus staff member, that it now lets teachers easily create “playlists.” Here’s what she wrote me: OER website HippoCampus.org also allows

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 19min 

Delicious Unveils New Redesign

I continue to be a fan and regular user of Delicious as a place to save and organize links (though I actually bookmark sites with Diigo, who then a automatically forwards them to Delicious — it’s always good to have a back-up). Delicious has just unveiled a new redesign. You can read about it at TechCrunch and watch a video here (though I’m not sure if it will show up in an RSS Reader):

9 by Larry Ferlazzo / 7h 

Learn About Punctuation Through Soccer

Learn about punctuation through soccer in my latest New York Times post for English Language Learners. It includes a student interactive and teaching ideas. You can see all my New York Times posts for ELLs here.

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h

10-6-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t” – OctoberI have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them here with a minim

by mike simpson / 7h 

10-7-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Mark Zuckerberg: Bill Gates Was My Hero

Down at the end of the NY Times suck up piece to Bill Gates today is this:“When I was growing up, Bill Gates was my hero,” Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, said in a speech at a conference last month. He added: “I think he’s one of the greatest visionaries that our industry has ever had."No wonder Zuckerberg grew up to be a sociopath.

by reality-based edu... / 41min 

Joel Klein On Student Success

He's so full of it.The so-called personalized learning he's talking about is created by algorithms on his Asus/Amplify tablets.Nothing personalized about that.Even if the tablets worked, rather than melted, which apparently they don't, since the first district that bought them has had serious issues with them.Do you know what we need for student success?This kind of school system.That's something

by reality-based edu... / 30min 

Can You Imagine A School Chancellor Who Promoted This Kind Of School System?

An article by Kathleen Cashin and Bruce Cooper for a new style of education reform (reposted in full because it's now behind a paywall):Remaking Schools as Socioemotional PlacesBy Kathleen M. Cashin and Bruce S. Cooper Premium article access courtesy of Edweek.org.What do children do in school when they are treated like objects to be shaped, controlled, and rewarded—or punished—for what they said

by reality-based edu... / 2min 

Common Core Is Making Kids Hate School And Learning

This came up more than once at today's school meetings - kids are really starting to hate school and there has been a lot more acting out this year than in previous years.Both math and ELA teachers who are teaching the new Common Core curriculum materials say students hate the new lessons and have grown disengaged with the learning process already (and it's only October!)Guidance counselors are sa

by reality-based edu... / 28min 

Taking Cuomo On Over His Education "Death Penalty" Policies

Fred Dicker reported in the NY Post that Andrew Cuomo is looking to avoid "a head-on clash with de Blasio and the “progressive,’’ or left-of-center, wing of the Democratic Party that de Blasio represents."Dicker says it's because Cuomo knows such a contingent would be crucial to his chances in 2016 if he runs for president.As Cuomo revs up his "death penalty" for schools polici

by reality-based edu... / 15min 

Mayor Bloomberg Spends $1 Million In Cash For Cory Booker's Floundering Senate Campaign

Wall Street shill Cory Booker, ostensibly a "rock star politician" who is supposed to be entering the national stage as one of the great future hopes of the Democratic Party, needs Mike Bloomberg's money to dispense with a Tea Party opponent who should be 50 points down but is suddenly within 12.The Times reports Bloomberg is putting $1 million of his own money in on Booker's side, runni

by reality-based edu... / 29min 

Fred Dicker: Cuomo Won't Give De Blasio Tax Hike, But Will Find Pre-K Money For City

Interesting piece in today's Dicker column:Gov. Cuomo, fearing a clash with a Mayor Bill de Blasio over the poll-leading Democrat’s tax-the-rich plan to fund a universal pre-K program, has directed his staff to explore “alternative options’’ to let the city raise the money without an income-tax hike, The Post has learned. “The last thing the governor wants is a clash with a Mayor de Blasio,’’ a Cu

by reality-based edu... / 3min 

Daily News Shills Play Fast And Loose With Facts On Charter Schools

The neo-liberals at the Daily News have an editorial today supporting Eva Moskowitz's walk across the bridge protest for charter schools.As usual with the DN, they play fast and loose with the facts:The innovative approaches, longer school days and longer school years they offer — almost always carried out by teachers working outside the union contract — are undeniable. Just one example: On the to

by reality-based edu... / 42min mark as read  //  save

Washing Away The Reformers

Here's a comment I left on a Capital NY article about the Common Core test scores:The processes to determine proficiency are political decisions made by humans in the NYSED and at the Board of Regents.  NYSED Commissioner King and Regents Chancellor Tisch would have people believe these so-called proficiency rates were given down from the mount and are objective, scientific measures of what studen

by reality-based edu... / 3h 

10-6-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Science Teacher Complains Common Core Turns Him Into Literacy Teacher, But He Still Supports The CCSSA common complain with the Common Core - no matter what subject a teacher teaches, he/she must become an ELA teacher and teach informational texts:At the beginning of the school year, I start off my class with a quote. In my best orator voice, I exclaim, “We need to teach our

by mike simpson / 9h